Published : 24 Sep 2026, 10:57 AM
Updated : 24 Sep 2026, 10:57 AM
Chinese President Xi Jinping has received an elaborate welcome from US President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews, featuring a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honour guard, military formations, national anthems and a flyover by two B-1 bombers.
Trump made a rare personal appearance at the airport to greet Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan on Wednesday after they stepped off their aircraft, according to media reports.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump waited near the aircraft staircase as Xi and Peng arrived, News18 reports.
Trump and Xi shook hands after the Chinese president descended from the plane, according to the Indian outlet.
The ceremony marked the start of Xi’s three-day state visit to Washington, during which the two sides are expected to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, Iran and other issues affecting US-China relations.
A 100-Foot Red Carpet
The centrepiece of the arrival ceremony was a 100-foot, or about 30-metre, red carpet laid out from the bottom of the aircraft staircase, according to media reports.
A 21-person honour guard stood along the carpet as Trump and Melania waited to receive Xi and Peng.
The military ceremony also featured formations, national anthems and a flyover by two B-1 bombers.
Media reports said the ceremony also included a salute battery, two three-person colour teams carrying the US and Chinese flags, and a US Air Force band, which played a fanfare followed by the two countries’ national anthems.
The military display also included platoons representing each branch of the US armed forces, according to the reports.
