United States President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a state visit focused on trade, artificial intelligence and other contentious issues.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a formal arrival ceremony on the South Lawn. The event included military honours, remarks by both leaders and a military review.
The Chinese leader’s visit marks his first trip to Washington in more than a decade and follows a meeting between the two presidents in Beijing earlier this year. Trump had personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, a rare departure from standard protocol.
According to reports from the meeting, Trump described his relationship with Xi as a “truly great friendship.”
Xi called for stronger communication between the two capitals and urged both sides to avoid conflict and confrontation. After arriving in the United States, he said China and the US should be “partners rather than rivals” and expressed hope for discussions on bilateral ties and the global situation.
Talks are expected to cover artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan and the war in Iran. The visit comes as Washington and Beijing work to maintain a recently extended trade truce while managing differences over technology, rare earth minerals and China’s support for Iran.
A state dinner hosted by Trump and the first lady is scheduled for Thursday evening, with members of the official delegations, business leaders and government officials expected to attend.
