1,967 Views Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning hosted Donald Trump with full state honours during a high-profile welcome ceremony held outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. Trump’s arrival marks the first visit by a sitting United States President to China in almost nine years, reviving one of the world’s […]

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning hosted Donald Trump with full state honours during a high-profile welcome ceremony held outside the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Trump’s arrival marks the first visit by a sitting United States President to China in almost nine years, reviving one of the world’s most closely watched diplomatic engagements amid continued global tensions over trade, technology, security and geopolitical influence.

The American leader is in China on a three-day state visit running from Wednesday to Friday at the invitation of President Xi.

The colourful ceremony was held at the symbolic Tian’anmen Square area where a 21-gun salute was fired in honour of the visiting U.S. President while military bands from the two countries performed the national anthems of both nations.

Chinese military guards lined up in formation as Xi officially welcomed Trump at the entrance to the Great Hall of the People, the political heart of the Chinese government.

The visit is being viewed globally as a major diplomatic milestone given the strained relations that have existed between Washington and Beijing in recent years over trade tariffs, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, military influence in the Indo-Pacific region and competition for global economic dominance.

Trump previously visited China in November 2017 during his first term as President when Xi hosted him in what was then described as a “state visit-plus,” featuring lavish ceremonies and extensive diplomatic engagements.

That 2017 visit was remembered for its unusually warm personal chemistry between the two leaders despite later tensions that emerged during the U.S.-China trade war.

Analysts say the current visit could signal attempts by both sides to stabilise relations at a time when the global economy remains fragile and major powers are competing aggressively for strategic influence.

The United States and China remain the world’s two largest economies, meaning any diplomatic breakthrough or confrontation between the two nations often has global economic consequences.

Although details of the closed-door discussions between Xi and Trump had not yet been fully released by press time, observers expect trade relations, global security, investment, artificial intelligence regulation and the wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to dominate the talks.

The visit has also attracted worldwide attention because of Trump’s political comeback and renewed influence on global diplomacy after returning to the White House.

Security in Beijing was significantly heightened ahead of the ceremony, with Chinese authorities deploying tight security around Tian’anmen Square and central government buildings during the state visit.

The Great Hall of the People has historically hosted some of the most significant diplomatic events in modern Chinese history, including meetings involving world leaders, party congresses and major state functions.

The Trump-Xi meeting is expected to continue over the next two days with bilateral talks, official banquets and economic discussions involving senior officials from both countries.

Footage credit – Africa TV / CCTV+