Lavish welcome ceremony planned at Joint Base Andrews near Washington

First time Trump has greeted foreign leader at airport in second term

US President Donald Trump attends the "Patriot Games" event at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, on Aug. 11 (local time). [AP]
US President Donald Trump attends the "Patriot Games" event at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio, on Aug. 11 (local time). [AP]

In an era when a single word from Trump can shake global markets, the Daily Trump newsletter cuts through the noise. The Herald Business international desk — on the move from 5 a.m. — delivers a one-minute briefing covering US market closes and the Trump news most likely to move global assets. Subscribe at the Herald Business website.

US President Donald Trump plans to personally greet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport when Xi arrives in the United States on Wednesday (local time) for a bilateral summit, AFP and other outlets reported Thursday.

AFP said a US official confirmed that Trump would extend a rare honor to Xi upon his arrival in Washington for the state visit next week.

The official told the news agency that Xi is expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews near Washington around 4 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, and that Trump will attend a welcome ceremony at the base.

Politico said it would be the first time in Trump's second term that he has gone to an airport to personally receive a foreign leader, describing the gesture as part of "a courting effort to extract some policy wins from Xi."

One government official told Politico the move would carry significant weight for Beijing. "Xi really wants to be seen as an equal to Trump, so this will be very important to the Chinese side," the official said.

The Hill reported that the welcome ceremony at Joint Base Andrews is expected to be "opulent," and said Trump's personal reception was a reciprocal gesture following Xi's red-carpet welcome during Trump's state visit to Beijing last May.

When Trump arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport for his state visit on the night of May 13, the Chinese side was represented by Vice President Han Zheng.

Xi greeted Trump with a red-carpet ceremony the following day at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two leaders held their summit.

Trump and Xi are scheduled to hold a summit at the White House on Thursday, followed by a state dinner that evening. Xi is expected to conclude his two-night, three-day state visit and depart the United States on Friday.

Meanwhile, Xi will not attend the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York next week, The Hill reported.


yckim6452@heraldcorp.com