The move was unusual for Trump, who typically receives foreign leaders at the White House rather than meeting them at the airport.
President Xi arrived in the United States early Thursday morning.
According to the BBC, it had been 64 years since a U.S. president welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy received British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan there.
Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, while Xi was joined by his wife, Peng Liyuan.
The two leaders were welcomed with a red-carpet ceremony, national anthems from both countries, and a flyover by two B-1 military aircraft.
ABC News reported that Xi’s visit will last three days. On September 24, the two leaders are expected to hold talks at the White House, after which Trump will host a dinner for the Chinese delegation.
Their discussions are expected to cover trade, artificial intelligence technology security, Taiwan, the war in Iran, and minerals critical to industry.
On the evening of September 23, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the two countries had agreed to extend their trade truce until January 10.
In a statement published by China’s Xinhua News Agency, Xi expressed his desire for the two countries to work together as partners.
He is expected to conclude his visit on September 25 after touring historical documents preserved at the U.S. National Archives.
