By Enyichukwu Enemanna
US President, Donald Trump touched down in China’s capital, Beijing on Wednesday ahead of a crucial summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, after promising to call on the Asian power to “open up” to American business.
Trump was treated to a red-carpet welcome at Beijing Capital International Airport by US Ambassador to China David Perdue; Xi’s Vice President, Han Zheng; China’s Ambassador to Washington Xie Feng; and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu.
The official party was accompanied by a military band and honour guard, as well as 300 youths singing a welcome message and waving American and Chinese flags in time to the band’s music. Trump greeted the crowd with his signature fist pumps.
Trump, who appeared excited with the pomp and pageantry surrounding his arrival, was followed off the plane by his son Eric, daughter-in-law Lara, SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Thursday will mark the first full day of Trump’s visit and feature a visit to Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, followed by a bilateral meeting with Xi and a state dinner.
Trump will meet with his Chinese counterpart again on Friday before flying back to Washington.
The trip marks the first time a US President has set foot on Chinese soil since 2017, though Trump and Xi previously met in person this past October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
Trump claimed to reporters Tuesday that Xi is expected to make a reciprocal visit to the US “toward the end of the year.”
The visit comes as the two global superpowers have sought to iron out tensions over recent years. Under the Biden administration, the world’s two largest economies sought to foster “managed competition.”
Last year, Trump slapped massive tariffs on China, which fluctuated frequently and at one point soared into triple digits. During that time, the two economic giants traded barbs, with China imposing restrictions on rare earth exports and the US stopping advanced chip sales that Beijing could use to give it a key boost in the artificial intelligence race.
Trump said Monday that he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by China — a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on its support to the island.
US investment in China also plunged dramatically.
Trump said Monday that he would speak to Xi about US arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by China, a departure from historic US insistence that it will not consult Beijing on its support to the island.
