Trump greets China's Xi in rare airport welcome for state visit
US President Donald Trump personally greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Sept 23, marking a rare airport welcome for Xi's three-day state visit aimed at easing superpower tensions. The visit includes a state banquet at the White House on Sept 24. Trump and First Lady Melania shook hands with Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan on the tarmac, with a military band and a flyover by B-1 bombers. Six F-22 and six F-16 jets were displayed, while analysts note low expectations for breakthroughs, focusing instead on maintaining a fragile trade truce. A trade war truce was extended to Jan 10, and preliminary talks included creating an AI communication channel. The visit has drawn criticism from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who called Xi a dictator, while Trump downplayed allegations of Chinese help for Iran.