On 23 September, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the US on a three-day state visit. Donald Trump personally welcomed the Chinese leader at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. A formal ceremony with a red carpet and military honours was organised for the guest.
Briefly about the main points
- Xi Jinping has arrived in the US on a state visit.
- Trump personally met him by the plane.
- This is Xi’s first state visit to the US in 11 years.
- Zelensky asked Trump to enlist China’s help in exerting influence on Putin.
How Xi Jinping’s visit to the US began
As reported by AFP, the American president’s decision to personally meet the foreign leader at the airport was an unusual gesture.
During the ceremony Trump і Si They stood side by side on the airfield whilst a military band played the national anthems. Two B-1 bombers also flew over the airbase. The agency noted a difference in the reception given to the leaders: during Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, Xi Jinping did not meet him at the airport. The US President did not attach any particular significance to this difference.
Why is this being described as the first state visit in 11 years?
Previous state Xi Jinping’s visit to the US took place in September 2015. Therefore, the phrase «for the first time in 11 years» refers to type of trip, rather than the Chinese leader’s most recent visit to the US.
In particular, on 15 November 2023, Xi met with the then US President Joe Biden in Woodside, California.
According to the programme released by the White House, an official welcoming ceremony and a state dinner are scheduled for 24 September. The following day will include a tea reception and a visit to the US National Archives.
Zelenskyy asked for the issue of exerting influence on Putin to be raised
On the eve of the talks between the US and Chinese leaders, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked Trump to urge Xi Jinping to exert influence on Vladimir Putin.
According to Zelenskyy, the aim of such an appeal should be the end of the Russian war against Ukraine, or at least a de-escalation. The Ukrainian president spoke of this whilst commenting on his contacts with his American counterpart.
Kyiv is therefore seeking to harness Beijing’s influence in its diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end. At the same time, Zelenskyy’s request does not in itself mean that China has already agreed to take the necessary steps.
What Trump and Xi plan to discuss
The expected topics of discussion include trade, the supply of rare-earth elements and artificial intelligence. The visit comes against the backdrop of attempts by Washington and Beijing to stabilise bilateral relations.
For Ukraine, a separate question remains as to whether the appeal to the Chinese leadership will lead to concrete action to put an end to Russian aggression.
