Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for a crucial state visit to China, but one moment from the trip quickly dominated global headlines — Xi Jinping did not personally receive him at the airport. Despite a grand ceremonial welcome, military honours and carefully managed optics, Trump was greeted by Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng instead of Xi himself, triggering speculation online about a possible diplomatic signal from Beijing.  

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have kicked off a closely watched high-stakes summit in Beijing, with the future of global trade, Taiwan tensions and the escalating Iran crisis dominating discussions. The meeting comes at a crucial moment for US-China relations as both nations attempt to navigate rising geopolitical friction while keeping economic cooperation alive. Trump arrived in Beijing alongside a powerful delegation of top American business leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, signaling Washington’s renewed focus on technology, trade and strategic investment ties with China. Xi Jinping personally extended a grand ceremonial welcome for the US President at the Great Hall of the People, underscoring the significance Beijing attaches to the bilateral meeting despite growing tensions between the two superpowers. WATCH