“Grand Welcome for Trump in China, Sanctioned Rubio Also Joins Delegation”

BEIJING — U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit to China, marking his first official trip to the country in eight years.

As Air Force One carrying President Trump landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, the Chinese government organized a grand reception. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and diplomat Xie Feng welcomed him at the airport, while nearly 300 children dressed in blue and white waved the flags of both countries and chanted “Welcome” in Mandarin.

Trump is accompanied on the visit by his son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump. Separate rounds of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Discussions are expected to cover trade, Taiwan, rare earth minerals, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Iran conflict.

The delegation also includes 17 leading American business figures, among them Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Boeing’s chief executive officer. However, Jensen Huang is reportedly not part of the visit. During the trip, the two sides are also expected to discuss what could become the largest Boeing aircraft deal in history, reportedly worth more than nine trillion Nepali rupees.

Meanwhile, before departing Washington, Trump told reporters that the United States did not require China’s assistance to end the Iran war. “America will win this war one way or another,” he said. He added that while he was not focused on economic concerns, Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

One of the more intriguing aspects of the visit is the inclusion of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the delegation despite previous sanctions imposed on him by China. Beijing had sanctioned Rubio during his time as a senator after he criticized China over issues involving Uyghur Muslims and Hong Kong. Reports suggest that Chinese authorities have now altered the Chinese-language rendering of Rubio’s name, effectively preventing the earlier sanctions tied to the previous version of his name from technically applying to the new one.

According to the White House, President Xi will host a state dinner in Trump’s honor at the Great Hall of the People during the visit, a gesture regarded as a significant diplomatic honor. During Trump’s first-term visit to China in 2017, Xi had similarly arranged a special welcome ceremony. Diplomatic analysts say the state dinner is intended to signal that China continues to attach strategic importance to its relationship with the United States. Trump is expected to remain in Beijing until May 15.