Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States for a state visit, expressing confidence that China and the US can find an appropriate path to collaboration as they seek to stabilise relations.

President Xi landed at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, accepting an invitation from US President Donald Trump. President Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, extended a rare planeside welcome to the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

The welcome ceremony included American children presenting flowers to Xi and Peng, an honour guard, a 21-gun salute, the national anthems of both countries, and a military flyover.

In a written speech upon his arrival, President Xi stated that China and the United States are both great nations whose peoples have maintained friendly exchanges and whose interests are deeply intertwined.

“China and the United States should be partners, not rivals,” Xi asserted, arguing that the two countries’ development goals can complement each other and contribute to global well-being.

Xi said the two major powers could find an appropriate way to coexist and cooperate in the new era.

“This year is a crucial year for the respective development of China and the United States,” he noted, recalling that he and President Trump had agreed during the US President’s visit to China in May to build a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.

According to President Xi, that understanding provides strategic guidance for the future development of bilateral relations.

“China and the United States should work in the same direction, promote a stable relationship featuring cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, manageable differences, and promises of peace,” Xi urged

President Xi remarked that the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States has not altered despite shifts in the international environment.

He also highlighted that the goodwill between the two peoples and the international community’s expectations for the two countries have remained unchanged.

The Chinese President stated his anticipation of in-depth discussions with President Trump on major issues affecting bilateral relations and the wider international situation, as well as expanding opportunities for exchanges and cooperation.

“I am confident that China and the United States, as two major countries, can find the right way to get along in the new era,” Xi reiterated.

He added that he expected the visit to deepen friendship between the two peoples and, through joint efforts, enhance their well-being and contribute to world peace.

President Xi’s arrival marks the commencement of high-level engagement with President Trump, with the visit scheduled to run until 25 September. This is Xi’s first state visit to Washington in over a decade and the second meeting between the two leaders this year.

The visit occurs as Beijing and Washington continue efforts to manage differences over trade, technology, and other areas of the bilateral relationship. Recent economic discussions between senior officials from both countries have focused on trade issues and artificial intelligence, alongside broader efforts to maintain dialogue.

President Xi’s arrival was also met with a public welcome from overseas Chinese and students, who gathered along the route from the airport to his hotel, waving Chinese and US flags.

The state visit is expected to provide the two leaders with an opportunity to discuss the direction of China-US relations and wider international issues, with both sides publicly emphasising dialogue and the management of differences.