US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for an elaborate state visit expected to emphasise symbolism more than substance, as both leaders seek to project strong ties despite their deep rivalry.
The leaders of the world’s two largest economies will meet for the second time this year, while Xi will make his first visit to Washington in nearly a decade. The meeting comes as both sides continue efforts to negotiate a US-China trade deal amid lingering disagreements over tariffs, technology and market access.
According to C-SPAN, which covers presidential events, Trump welcomed Xi upon his arrival on Wednesday night. The visit marks the first time in 11 years that a US president has personally welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews, since President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis in 2015.
In an arrival statement published by China’s Xinhua news agency, Xi expressed optimism for greater stability in bilateral relations, emphasizing that the “historical logic of peaceful cohabitation” between the two powers remains unchanged and asserting that Beijing and Washington should function as “partners, not adversaries.”
For Trump, who places high value on diplomatic spectacle and personal relationships with foreign leaders, the visit presents an avenue for elevated diplomacy alongside national prestige. Beyond the ceremony, however, the prospect of progress on the US-China trade deal remains one of the key issues surrounding the meeting.
Through state ceremonies across the South Lawn, State Floor, and Rose Garden, the US President aims to reciprocate the elaborate reception extended to him during his visit to China in May.
Major diplomatic breakthroughs from the summit are not anticipated, although any movement towards a US-China trade deal could provide a significant economic outcome from the high-profile meeting.
Meanwhile, according to a Reuter’s report, analysts say tangible outcomes are likely to be limited to an extension of a trade truce expiring in November and an agreement to ​examine threats posed by artificial intelligence.
Backstory…
Donald Trump’s decision to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington comes at a time when the global trade landscape is being reshaped by tensions between the US and some of its traditional allies.
The three-day visit is expected to focus heavily on trade and technology, with Washington and Beijing still trying to manage tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The meeting also comes as Canada is actively looking to diversify its trade relationships, particularly amid its increasingly difficult economic relationship with the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended trade negotiations with Washington in August after concluding that proposed US terms were unfair and created uncertainty for Canadian businesses.
Just recently, leaders of France and Canada have pledged to strengthen France-Canada ties to tackle growing geopolitical threats, climate change and what they described as the erosion of democratic values.
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