BEIJING — President Trump touched down in China’s capital Wednesday evening ahead of a crucial summit with Xi Jinping, after promising to call on the Asian power to “open up” to American business. The president was given 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 honor 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 visibly pleased with the pomp and circumstance 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.
