The US prepares a ceremonial welcome for Xi Jinping at the White House
In Washington, US military honor guards held a rehearsal at the White House for the ceremonial welcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose visit to the United States is expected next week. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
Honor guard rehearsal
A video published on Tuesday on social media by Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson showed servicemembers from different branches of the US armed forces standing in formation in dress uniforms.
The rehearsal resembled the ceremony China held for US President Donald Trump on May 14 during his visit to Beijing. At the time, the honor guard of China’s People’s Liberation Army welcomed Trump at the square near the eastern gate of the Great Hall of the People.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump called the march of Chinese military personnel “incredible” and spoke positively about the welcome ceremony. The White House and Trump’s personal account also published several photographs dedicated to the Chinese honor guard.
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Preparations for the summit
The White House is completing renovation work ahead of the expected arrival of the Chinese leader. As The Washington Post previously reported, workers removed the curtains that had covered the North Portico, and the scaffolding around it is expected to be dismantled soon.
The work on the North Portico is part of a series of construction and renovation projects initiated by Trump. He sought to complete several upgrades before a planned state dinner for Xi Jinping.
Officials from both countries are preparing for a bilateral summit while using softer rhetoric ahead of the talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that he will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend for final preparatory negotiations.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun called for maintaining global stability through multilateralism at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. In a 20-minute speech, he did not name any specific country and did not raise the issue of Taiwan, unlike in his speech last year.
