US President Donald Trump is scheduled to personally welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at an American airport next week, according to detikNews. The outlet describes the planned airport reception as rare, framing it as an unusual gesture ahead of a summit between the two leaders.
Preparations for the meeting are already underway on several fronts. Investing.com Indonesia reports that senior officials from both the United States and China met in New York ahead of the Trump-Xi summit. Separately, ANTARA News reports that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed high-level interactions by telephone.
The summit is expected to take place against a tense backdrop. Kompas.id reports that the Trump-Xi meeting will be overshadowed by a "war" over artificial intelligence, suggesting AI policy will weigh heavily on the talks.
The trip may also draw attention beyond the official delegation. CNN Indonesia reports that the head of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, who appears on a Pentagon blacklist, is said to be traveling to the United States with Xi.
Details of the airport welcome, including its location and timing, were not specified in the reports. detikNews did not say which airport would host the reception or what the two leaders plan to discuss there.
What to watch next: whether both governments confirm the airport reception and the summit schedule, and whether the AI dispute and the composition of Xi's delegation shape the agenda once the two leaders meet.