Trump greets Xi Jinping who arrives for US visit

US President Donald Trump has greeted his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping with a military flyover and 100ft (30m) red carpet to kick off their three-day summit in Washington.

In a rare move, Trump met China’s premier at the airport as the US Air Force band marched on the tarmac and US and Chinese flags flew.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening in Maryland.

The high-stakes visit – Xi’s first trip to Washington since 2015 – is expected to include closed-door meetings, a state dinner, and plenty to discuss, from AI, to the Iran war and Taiwan, and an extended trade truce.

The leader of China’s Communist Party touched down in an Air China plane at 17:39 local time (22:39 BST). The colour and honour guard marched up to the aircraft and stood on both sides of the red carpet as two limos pulled up.

Xi and Peng exited their plane and the two couples shook hands. They spoke briefly before walking side by side down the red carpet and posing for photos.

Two B-1s flew over as the Army Air Force Band played the US national anthem. The supersonic aircraft are a key part of the US’s combat arsenal.