Chinese President Xi Jinping to Receive Planeside Welcome at Joint Base Andrews
Chinese President Xi Jinping is arriving in Washington for a state visit and will receive a rare planeside welcome from President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews.
Philadelphia, PA, September 23, 2026 —
Washington D.C. – Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington for a state visit, an event marked by a seldom-seen diplomatic gesture: a planeside welcome from United States President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews.
The arrival ceremony, set to take place at the military installation located in Maryland, signifies a notable protocol for the high-level state visit. President Trump is expected to greet President Xi directly upon his disembarkation from his aircraft, a departure from the more traditional welcoming ceremonies that typically occur at the White House or other official venues.
State visits between the United States and China are significant diplomatic occasions, involving extensive discussions on bilateral relations, international affairs, and economic matters. The details of President Xi’s itinerary beyond his arrival were not immediately available, nor were specific topics slated for discussion during the state visit. However, the unique nature of the welcome suggests an effort by the Trump administration to underscore the importance of this particular engagement.
Joint Base Andrews serves as a principal entry point for foreign dignitaries visiting the Washington metropolitan area. The decision for President Trump to personally greet President Xi at the base, rather than later at the White House, is a choice that observers will likely analyze for its symbolic implications regarding the current state of U.S.-China relations. The duration of the state visit and the full scope of planned engagements remain part of the unfolding diplomatic agenda.
Story summarized from the original created by The Associated Press on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
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