Trump rolls out the red carpet for Xi despite U.S.-China tensions

Washington — President Trump is offering a warm welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping this week as the U.S. tries to choke China's supply of semiconductor chips for artificial intelligence advancement, as the two countries determine whether their fragile truce on tariffs will continue, and as concerns mount about China's relationships with Iran and Russia.

Xi's visit to the White House, the first in more than a decade, features a state arrival ceremony Wednesday, with Mr. Trump taking part along with U.S. military personnel.

Thursday will bring a formal meeting of the two presidents and a state dinner. Xi's wife, Peng Liyuan, is joining the trip.

Mr. Trump and Xi last met in May , when Xi welcomed the U.S. president for a state visit in Beijing.

Mr. Trump welcomed Xi and his wife at Joint Base Andrews late Wednesday, a rare instance of a sitting president greeting a foreign leader on the tarmac instead of awaiting them at the White House.

A military band played as Xi and his wife exited a massive Air China jet while the American president and first lady awaited them on a red carpet at the bottom of the stairs. The arrival ceremony, which included a flyover with two B-1 bombers, was quick, and Mr. Trump and the first lady departed about 10 minutes later.

Later Wednesday, the Chinese government provided an arrival statement on behalf of Xi. "China and the United States should be partners, not rivals," the statement reads. Xi says he seeks bilateral ties where "cooperation is the mainstay, competition is kept within proper limits, differences are managed and peace can be expected."

On Thursday morning, the president and first lady Melania Trump will host another arrival ceremony for Xi and his wife on the White House South Lawn. The White House says the ceremony will feature nearly 500 service members from all branches of the U.S. military.

The U.S. and Chinese flags will be displayed on the South Portico, according to the White House. The U.S. Marine Band will play the anthems of both the U.S. and China, the White House says . Then, both Mr. Trump and Xi are expected to speak.

The arrival ceremony is also expected to have a military flyover with a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22s.

The presidents' spouses are expected to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art on Thursday while Mr. Trump and Xi meet. A state dinner will be Thursday evening.

On Friday, the couples will have tea at the White House before heading to the National Archives. The visit will then conclude.

China experts say to not expect many tangible policy outcomes from the meeting. James Lewis, a distinguished fellow with the Tech Policy Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said there "isn't much of a formal agenda" for the two leaders.

"I'm not anticipating very much — I don't think anyone is," Lewis said. "Because this is largely for show. And it's largely a discussion between two very cautious and two very suspicious leaders."