Trump welcomes China's Xi on tarmac for US visit

US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Wednesday as Xi arrived for a three-day state visit to the US capital, marking the beginning of talks focused on bilateral relations and a range of economic and technological issues.

Trump and Xi stood side by side at the end of a red carpet with US and Chinese flags behind them as a US Air Force band played the two national anthems and cannons fired.

Two B-1 bombers flew over the airbase as the Chinese leader was greeted by Trump.

Trump later told reporters at the White House that the White House ballroom construction project was ahead of schedule and that he wished it had been completed in time for Thursday’s state dinner for Xi.

When asked if he would discuss Iran during Xi’s visit, he responded: “I’ll be talking about that and many other subjects, but it’s all coming along, including that."

Asked whether he agreed with his counterterrorism director’s characterization of fentanyl trafficking from China as “war by other means,” Trump said the situation was “not good,” while pointing to the tariffs and other penalties imposed on China.

Xi, for his part, said China and the US should be partners, not rivals, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

“Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, and the two countries can contribute to each other's success, thereby benefiting the wider world,” he said in a statement marking his arrival.

China and the US should work in the same direction, promote a stable relationship featuring cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, manageable differences, and promises of peace, Xi said.

He emphasized that the world is developing and times are changing, but the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the US and the general expectations of the international community for the two countries have not changed.

Xi said he looks forward to having in-depth exchanges with Trump on major issues concerning bilateral relations and the world situation, constantly enriching the connotation of the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability and expanding the space for exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

Trump is scheduled to host Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan at the White House on Thursday for a state arrival ceremony followed by a military review in the Rose Garden and a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump will also host Xi and Peng for a state dinner Thursday evening in the East Room, while the two couples are scheduled to meet again at the White House on Friday before the Chinese president's departure.

Trump said Friday that his meeting with Xi would include “a lot of different deals,” saying they would have a “very good meeting.”

He also said the US and China “get along very well,” while pointing to tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.

Trump said tariffs had previously reached 145% before being reduced, describing that level as “really hurting them badly.”

Trade, rare earth minerals and artificial intelligence are among the issues expected to feature in the talks, according to US officials.

Several prominent US business leaders are expected at Thursday's state dinner, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Jane Fraser and Tim Cook, according to a senior US official.

Xi's visit marks his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade.