Chinese President Xi Jinping walks on the White House lawn. Photo: Keira Lu Huang
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https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1861446/pomp-and-ceremony-obama-and-military-honour-guard Diplomacy
Pomp and ceremony as Obama and military honour guard welcome President Xi Jinping onto White House lawn
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect the troops during an official state arrival ceremony for the Chinese president. Photo: AP
United States President Barack Obama welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Friday with full state honours, amid tensions between the superpowers over cyberattacks and Beijing’s maritime claims.
The leaders of the world’s two biggest economies met amid great pomp, with a military honour guard and a fife and drum corps on the White House lawn to welcome Xi.
In his remarks welcoming Xi, Obama said “Ni Hao” and said that by cooperating the two nations had an unmatched ability to shape the course of the century.
Obama said the US welcomed the rise of China, but added that Washington would be candid in its discussion over a wide range of issues.
“Even as our nations cooperate, I believe – and I know you agree – that we must address our differences candidly,” Obama said. “The United States will always speak out on behalf of fundamental truths. We believe nations are more successful and the world makes more progress when our companies compete on a level-playing field, when disputes are resolved peacefully and when the universal human rights of all people are upheld.”
However, Xi's speech hardly addressed differences between the nations, talking instead about cooperation, friendship and peace.
For his part, Xi said China-US relations had entered a new starting point that the two nations had no choice but to enhance win-win cooperation.
“The impact caused by the cooperation of China and the US will be greater than our individual efforts,” he said. “The bilateral relationship between China and the US must be defined by peace, respect and cooperation.”
During the 30-minute ceremony, Xi and Obama shook hands with people welcoming the Chinese president and stood side by side as a military band played the national anthems of both countries.
The bilateral relationship between China and the US must be defined by peace, respect and cooperation
The two presidents will engage in talks after the ceremony, and will attend a joint press conference.
The two leaders, who arrived shortly after 9am, were accompanied by the two first ladies, Peng Liyuan and Michelle Obama. Peng wore a light pink suit and skirt, Michelle Obama wore black. The two first ladies briefly talked to each other while waiting for the ceremony to start. Michelle Obama seemed friendly as she talked and patted Peng’s back
With reporting by Associated Press and Agence France-Presse