President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, to the U.S. for a three-day state visit.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday evening. The airport welcome, which featured a red carpet and a military band, is considered unusual as U.S. presidents typically receive visiting leaders at the White House. The visit marks a reciprocal trip following President Trump’s visit to China in May.

Scheduled White House Events

The state visit includes several formal events at the White House on Thursday, starting with a ceremony on the State Floor and a review of troops in the Rose Garden. Following these events, the leaders will hold private, formal talks. Thursday evening will conclude with a state dinner in the East Room, where both leaders are expected to deliver remarks. Attendees are slated to include various U.S. tech executives, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Sam Altman.

Diplomatic and Strategic Agenda

The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of complex issues, including trade, artificial intelligence safety, Taiwan, and the war in Iran. The visit aims to maintain stability in the relationship between the two nations following months of disagreements. On Friday, the two couples are scheduled to share private tea and visit the National Archives to view historical documents before President Xi departs the U.S.