WASHINGTON. Chinese President Xi Jinping began a three-day state visit to the United States on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump will greet him at Joint Base Andrews Airport outside Washington.

Xi will be welcomed with special honour during his first state visit in more than a decade.

During the visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals, Iran and Taiwan, among other issues. Although differences on trade and other issues remain, the visit is seen as an attempt to maintain dialogue and strategic stability in US-China relations.

A formal reception, military honors and a state dinner will be held at the White House on Thursday. Prominent figures from the tech industry will participate in the dinner. On Friday, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan met Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea and visited the National Archives.

Earlier in May, when Trump visited China, Xi himself came to welcome him. He was received by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

Hundreds of children carrying red carpets, military honor guards, military bands and flags greeted the US presidential plane in Beijing.

Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, disagreed with the grand reception given to Xi. He said that China’s military expansion and China’s support for Iran should be taken into consideration during the talks.