China’s Xi kicks off state visit to Washington on Wednesday with a rare planeside welcome from Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping, offering an unusually personal welcome as the Chinese leader begins his first state visit to Washington in more than a decade.

Trump is expected to greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, a break from the more typical arrangement in which a visiting leader travels directly to the White House. The president’s decision underscores the importance he places on personal diplomacy and what he describes as a strong working relationship with Xi.

First lady Melania Trump said her husband chose to meet Xi on American soil because the two leaders “have a great relationship.”

“He’s coming on our soil, and we need to welcome them with the most respect,” she said in a recent interview.

The three-day visit is expected to feature the full pageantry of an official state visit, including a formal arrival ceremony, a White House state dinner and a review of American troops. The lavish schedule is designed in part to match the grand reception Trump received during his visit to China earlier this year.

That trip included a red carpet for Air Force One, a military honor guard, a military band and hundreds of Chinese students waving American and Chinese flags. Trump is now preparing to offer Xi a similarly impressive welcome in Washington.

The president has spoken warmly of Xi, calling him a great leader and a friend. Trump has also highlighted preparations at the White House, including a new helicopter landing pad he described as a “work of art.” He has expressed disappointment that a much larger ballroom will not be completed in time for the visit.

The ceremony and formal dinners come at a challenging moment in the U.S.-China relationship. The two countries remain at odds over trade, artificial intelligence, Iran and China’s military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, including its claims involving Taiwan.

Some Republicans in Congress are urging Trump to take a harder line.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized what he called a lavish welcome for Xi. Wicker said Trump should not have invited the Chinese leader without addressing what he described as the troubling conduct of Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.

Wicker said the president should use every moment of the visit to press Xi on China’s military buildup, its support for Iran and its broader effort to dominate neighboring countries. He called Xi a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator whose military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States.

Still, the Trump administration says maintaining strategic stability with China is essential. The leaders are expected to hold serious private discussions, although expectations remain low for any major breakthrough.

On Thursday, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, will attend a White House arrival ceremony before the state dinner, which is expected to include technology leaders such as Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and SpaceX’s Elon Musk.

The visit will conclude Friday with private tea at the White House and a tour of the National Archives, where the two couples are expected to view historic documents highlighting the long relationship between the United States and China.

PHOTO- FILE – President Donald Trump, right, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the people in Beijing, Nov. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

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