Chinese President Xi Jinping will be greeted on the tarmac by former US President Donald Trump as he lands in Washington for a high‑profile summit.

Tarmac greeting marks an unusual start

According to The Independent, Trump will stand on the runway to welcome Xi’s aircraft, a protocol normally reserved for a sitting head of state arriving at the White House. The gesture is being described as a "rare planeside welcome" that underscores the symbolic weight of the meeting.

"A welcome on the tarmac signals the importance both sides attach to this visit," the report added.

The arrival is expected to take place at Joint Base Andrews, where the Chinese delegation will transfer to a motorcade bound for the White House. Security forces from both nations are already deployed, and the airfield is cordoned off to accommodate the unusual ceremony.

AI and trade likely to dominate talks

While the agenda has not been published in full, analysts say artificial intelligence and trade will dominate the discussions. A BBC Technology report this week highlighted China’s rapid expansion of remote data‑centre engine rooms in Inner Mongolia, a push that the Chinese government says is aimed at securing a global lead in AI.

US officials have repeatedly warned that Chinese advances in AI could pose security challenges, and the United Nations has flagged the technology as a potential flashpoint in the bilateral relationship. Trade issues, including lingering tariffs from previous disputes, are also expected to feature prominently.

Historical context of US‑China summits

High‑level meetings between Washington and Beijing have been rare since the two powers re‑established diplomatic ties in 1979. The last summit involving a sitting US president took place in 2023, when President Joe Biden met Xi in San Francisco to negotiate a modest tariff roll‑back.

Planeside welcomes are even rarer; the last recorded instance involved President George W. Bush greeting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji on a runway in 2001. The decision to have Trump perform the greeting, despite his status as a former president, adds a layer of personal diplomacy that analysts say could smooth or complicate the talks, depending on how it is received by senior officials in both capitals.

What comes next

Following the tarmac ceremony, Xi is slated to meet with senior US officials, including the current president and the secretary of state, before a joint press conference at the White House. The summit is expected to run for two days, after which delegations will return to their respective capitals to brief their governments.

Observers will be watching for any language on AI cooperation, export controls on semiconductor equipment and the status of the trade balance. A clear signal from either side could shape market expectations and diplomatic postures for months to come.