dexinwin Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on September 23 for a three-day state visit, receiving an unusually high-profile welcome from U.S. President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on the tarmac after the Air China plane landed. A long red carpet was rolled out beside the aircraft, while a 21-member honor guard, military personnel and a military band took part in the arrival ceremony.
21-Gun Salute and Military Honors
The arrival ceremony featured a ceremonial artillery salute, the national anthems of China and the United States, an honor guard and a military flyover.
According to Associated Press reports, two B-1 bombers flew over the base during the ceremony, producing a loud roar as Xi and Trump stood on the tarmac. The scene became one of the most striking moments of Xi's arrival in Washington.
The ceremony also included flower presenters and military personnel representing different branches of the U.S. armed forces.
The scale of the welcome attracted considerable attention because U.S. presidents do not routinely travel to the airport personally to greet visiting foreign leaders. Trump instead chose to meet Xi at Joint Base Andrews before the Chinese president continued his visit in Washington.
Another Military Flyover Scheduled at the White House
The military display will continue during the formal state arrival ceremony at the White House on September 24.
According to the White House, Trump and Melania will host a formal State Arrival Ceremony for Xi and Peng. The event will include performances by U.S. military ceremonial units and will conclude with a flyover featuring aB-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptor fighter jets.
This means the two-day welcome program includes separate military aviation displays: B-1 bombers participated in the arrival ceremony at Joint Base Andrews on September 23, while a B-2 and four F-22s are scheduled to participate in the formal White House ceremony on September 24.
A Rare Personal Airport Welcome
The decision by Trump to personally welcome Xi at the airport has become one of the most notable elements of the visit.
Xi's arrival marked his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade. Trump and Melania greeted Xi and Peng at the bottom of the aircraft stairs before the four exchanged handshakes and brief greetings.
The ceremony was accompanied by a military band and an honor guard, with the Chinese and American flags displayed prominently on the tarmac.
Focus Now Turns to the Summit
Beyond the ceremonial elements, the central focus of the visit will be the meetings between the Chinese and U.S. leaders.
The White House has scheduled a formal welcome ceremony, meetings at the White House and a state dinner during Xi's visit. The two presidential couples are also scheduled to visit the U.S. National Archives on September 25 before the conclusion of the state visit.
The highly choreographed arrival ceremonies have provided striking images from the opening day of the visit, but the substantive discussions between the two governments will determine the broader significance of the summit.
As Xi's Washington visit continues, attention is expected to focus on the leaders' discussions over bilateral relations, trade, technology and other issues affecting China-U.S. relations.
微信扫一扫打赏
支付宝扫一扫打赏