Welcoming Xi, Trump Calls Him 'Great Leader' in 'Great Moment'

▲ U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to the United States, on the 23rd (local time) and remarked that Xi is a "great leader," according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua reported on the 24th that as President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived in Washington aboard their special plane, President Trump and Melania Trump warmly greeted them.

According to Xinhua, President Trump said, "I am very pleased to welcome President Xi and Madame Peng to Washington," adding, "This visit is drawing the attention of the entire world."

He continued, "President Xi is a great leader, and this is a great moment," stating, "I look forward to having in-depth exchanges with President Xi and promoting the development of bilateral relations."

The state media reports did not separately mention President Xi's remarks at the time of the welcome.

Only the contents of President Xi's written speech were reported.

President Xi stated, "Both China and the United States are great countries, and both the Chinese and American peoples are great peoples."

He continued, "The Chinese and U.S. sides must prioritize cooperation, keep competition within bounds, and ensure that differences remain manageable," adding, "We must strive to forge a stable relationship where peace can be expected."

President Xi also emphasized, "The two countries should be partners, not rivals," and asserted, "Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can certainly go hand in hand."

At the same time, he noted, "When President Trump visited China this May, we agreed to build a constructive and stable strategic relationship between the two countries, providing strategic direction for the future development of China-U.S. relations."

He went on to emphasize, "While the world is developing and the times are changing, the historical logic that China and the U.S. must coexist peacefully remains unchanged," adding, "The desire of the two peoples for friendly exchanges and the universal expectations of the international community for both China and the U.S. also remain unchanged."

President Xi expressed his hope to have in-depth discussions with President Trump on major issues concerning bilateral relations as well as the global situation, and to expand the scope of exchanges and cooperation between the two nations.

President Xi's current visit to the U.S. takes the form of a return visit approximately four months after President Trump's trip to China last May.

Xinhua reported that American children presented flowers to President Xi and Madame Peng, and a guard of honor lined both sides of the red carpet to pay respects.

A military band played the national anthems of both countries, accompanied by a 21-gun salute and a flyover by fighter jets.

The delegation accompanying President Xi included Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, who had arrived in advance at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., also greeted President Xi.

Xinhua explained that as President Xi rode in a car from the airport to his hotel, overseas Chinese residents, ethnic Chinese figures, and representatives of international students waved the flags of both countries along the roadsides to enthusiastically welcome President Xi's visit.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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