Footage released of Trump personally welcoming Xi Jinping: red carpet handshake and pleasantries, a 21-gun salute, and a salute from a B-1 bomber

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Washington, D.C. area at 5:40 p.m. to begin a three-day state visit; President Trump and First Lady Melania personally welcomed him at Joint Base Andrews, located in the suburbs of the capital.

Footage from the scene shows President Trump stepping forward to greet Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, immediately after they disembarked from their plane; the two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries on the red carpet. Xi also introduced the accompanying Chinese officials to Trump, who shook hands with each of them.

A grand military ceremony welcomed the couple, featuring the playing of both national anthems and a 21-gun salute fired by the U.S. Army. U.S. military aircraft, including two B-1 supersonic bombers, conducted a flyover of the base. The two leaders also posed for photos with the media, marking the official start of Xi’s state visit.

Accompanying Xi on the visit were officials including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister.

This marks the second face-to-face meeting between the U.S. and Chinese heads of state following their encounter in Beijing in May, and represents Xi’s first visit to the United States since September 2015.

Earlier, an impressive array of military assets had been assembled on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews to welcome Xi, including more than ten F-16 and F-22 fighter jets and four ceremonial cannons.