President Donald Trump’s personal airport welcome marked the first time since 1962 that a US leader had greeted a foreign leader at the base|@WhiteHouse|X
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the US yesterday for his first visit since 2015, kicking off a high-profile three-day diplomatic engagement with President Donald Trump.
The talks conclude tomorrow.
In a rare move, Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The personal airport welcome marked the first time since 1962 that a US president had greeted a foreign leader at the base. President John F. Kennedy previously welcomed British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan there.
Trump is hosting Xi for a state dinner tonight, with some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names on the guest list: Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk.
What will the summit cover?
Trade will take center stage, with one announcement already out. The US and China have agreed to extend their trade truce until January, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News yesterday.
The truce has suspended some US tariffs and restrictions, while China has maintained supplies of rare earth minerals crucial to industries including automobiles, semiconductors and aviation.
Bessent said negotiators are discussing lower tariffs on $30 billion of imports from each country, along with financial services and agricultural purchases.
Other talks will cover:
Artificial intelligence: As both countries are vying for the lead in technology, AI will be high on the agenda for Trump and Xi.
Taiwan: Taiwan will be a sensitive issue, with Xi pressing China’s claim as Trump weighs a $14 billion arms deal that has been on hold for months. The US sold Taiwan $11 billion in arms in December.
The war in Iran: Some US officials are pushing Washington to ask China to use its leverage with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. China accounts for the largest share of Iran’s trade, despite the US’s efforts to cut off Tehran’s economic lifelines.
Xi said the two countries should act as “partners rather than rivals.”
Underlying tensions
The meeting comes after US officials accused Chinese companies of providing Tehran with satellite imagery and access to a spy system that Iranian forces used during attacks in the region.