President Donald Trump took the unusual step of meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the airport as Xi arrived for a three-day state visit, ahead of a summit expected to focus on trade, AI and the Iran war.
Key facts
- Trump travelled to Joint Base Andrews to personally greet Xi Jinping as he arrived.
- Xi is in the US for a three-day state visit.
- The upcoming US-China summit is set to be dominated by trade, AI and the Iran war.
- The meeting takes place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Poland's president told the UN General Assembly that Russia is 'destabilising' Europe.
US President Donald Trump took the rare step of travelling to Joint Base Andrews to personally greet Chinese leader Xi Jinping as he arrived in the United States, according to the Guardian. The gesture, meeting a foreign leader at the airport rather than at the White House, underscored the significance both sides place on the US-China relationship.
Xi arrived for a three-day trip and a state visit, Al Jazeera reported, with Trump greeting the Chinese leader at his plane. Al Jazeera noted that meeting a foreign leader at the airport is an uncommon move for a US president.
The personal welcome comes ahead of a high-stakes summit between the two leaders. According to the Guardian, the meeting is set to be dominated by trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war.
The summit is taking place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where world leaders have gathered. The Guardian reported that Poland’s president told the UN General Assembly that Russia is ‘destabilising’ Europe.
The developments came just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s scheduled address to the UN General Assembly. The Guardian said he was likely to reflect on recent attacks during his speech.
As of the reports, there had been no public comment from Zelenskyy or Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, according to the Guardian.
Why it matters
A face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies could shape the direction of trade, technology and global security. Trump's decision to greet Xi at the airport signals the weight Washington is placing on the relationship at a moment of heightened international tension.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Trump greet Xi Jinping at the airport?
According to Al Jazeera, Trump took the rare step of meeting Xi at the airport to underscore the significance of the US-China relationship. He travelled to Joint Base Andrews to greet the Chinese leader at his plane.
What will the US-China summit focus on?
The Guardian reported that the meeting is set to be dominated by trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war.
How long is Xi Jinping's visit to the US?
Al Jazeera reported that Xi arrived for a three-day trip, described as a state visit.