Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States for a three-day visit, receiving a high-profile red-carpet welcome from US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump and the first lady welcomed Xi Jinping and his wife at the military base, where a 100-foot-long red carpet was laid for the arrival ceremony. The event featured an elaborate display of diplomatic and military protocol.
Xi was given a ceremonial 21-gun salute at Joint Base Andrews, while the national anthems of the United States and China were played. Military aircraft also conducted a flypast during the welcome ceremony, highlighting the significance of the Chinese president’s visit.
The reception for Xi was considered unusual compared with the normal protocol for visiting foreign leaders. The high-profile ceremony underscored the importance attached to the Chinese president’s visit and his meetings with the US administration.
It was reported that the visit marked the first time in 11 years that a US president had personally welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews. In 2015, former President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis at the same military facility.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Trump and Xi exchanged smiles, shook hands and spoke briefly before departing for Washington, DC. The two leaders then traveled separately from the military base following the formal welcome.
