Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on September 23, 2026, beginning a three-day state visit to the United States with an unusually high-profile airport welcome from President Donald Trump. The visit places trade, technology, Taiwan and wider global security issues at the center of another closely watched US-China summit.
Xi’s aircraft landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. China’s Foreign Ministry said the visit runs from September 23 to September 25 at Trump’s invitation.
Trump welcomes Xi
Trump personally traveled to the military base to receive Xi, a notable departure from the more common practice of formally welcoming visiting leaders at the White House. The two presidents greeted each other on the tarmac before the delegations left the air base.
The personal welcome underscored the importance both governments are placing on the visit as they try to manage a relationship shaped by economic competition and strategic disagreements. Reuters reported that the trip is expected to test whether Washington and Beijing can maintain stability despite disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and other international issues.
Andrews arrival
Xi and Peng were received with a formal red-carpet ceremony at Joint Base Andrews. China’s Foreign Ministry said honor guards lined the carpet, national anthems were played and a 21-gun salute accompanied the welcome. Military aircraft also took part in the ceremony.
Trump later departed the base as preparations continued for Xi’s scheduled White House events.
US-China summit
Trump and Xi are expected to hold talks during the visit as Washington and Beijing seek to manage persistent differences between the world’s two largest economies. Trade remains a major issue, with both governments also facing disagreements over advanced technology, rare earth supplies and Taiwan.
Reuters reported ahead of the summit that the two countries could discuss extending their existing trade truce, while major breakthroughs are not necessarily expected.
White House welcome
Trump is scheduled to formally welcome Xi again at the White House, where the visit includes additional ceremonial events and private talks. A state dinner is also planned as part of the diplomatic program.
The ceremonies give both leaders an opportunity to project cooperation even as difficult policy disputes remain unresolved.
Media access
The airport coverage also unfolded against a separate dispute over White House press access. CNN and MS NOW are involved in litigation challenging the administration’s restrictions on their White House credentials.
That legal battle is separate from the Trump-Xi negotiations, but it has created an unusual backdrop for coverage of the visit. The central diplomatic focus now shifts to the White House, where Trump and Xi are expected to discuss the future of US-China relations during one of the year’s most closely watched bilateral meetings.
