[Beijing = E-Daily Lee Myeongcheol Correspondent] Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States got off to a warm start right from the beginning. U.S. President Donald Trump, who invited President Xi, personally welcomed him at the airport, signaling high expectations. The Chinese side is in high spirits, interpreting this as a sign that the U.S. considers President Xi’s visit to be of great importance.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 24th

President Xi began his state visit by arriving at Joint

, D.C., on the afternoon of

.

President Xi was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, as well as Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were on hand to personally welcome President Xi and his delegation.

Upon arrival, President Xi stated in a written address, “I look forward to exchanging in-depth views with President Trump on major issues related to bilateral relations and the global situation, and to continuously strengthening the substance of a constructive, strategic, and stable China-U.S. relationship.”

President Trump remarked, “President Xi is a great leader, and this is a great moment,” adding, “I look forward to having in-depth discussions with President Xi and advancing the development of bilateral relations.”

Given that it is not customary for the U.S. president to personally greet foreign heads of state even during state visits, this move is considered highly unusual. Fox News reported that this was the first time in 64 years—since President John F. Kennedy welcomed British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan at Andrews Air Force Base in 1962—that a U.S. president had personally greeted a foreign head of state there.

The Chinese media outlet The Paper pointed out, “According to U.S. diplomatic protocol, when a foreign head of state arrives at the airport, they are usually greeted by the vice president, the secretary of state, or protocol officials, while the president holds an official welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House; this is a very rare occurrence.”

It is not as if U.S. presidents have never personally gone to the airport recently. In 2008, then-President George W. Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI at the airport, and in 2015, then-President Barack Obama greeted Pope Francis. Ultimately, it takes a figure of the pope’s stature to prompt a U.S. president to go to the airport.

Wu Xinbo, director of the Institute of International Studies and the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, said in an interview with The Paper, “This shows how much President Trump values President Xi’s visit to the U.S.” He added, “Given the pressure from domestic and international issues ahead of the midterm elections, he likely believes that President Xi’s visit will add to the success of his efforts.”

Director Wu explained, “On the other hand, it reflects the very high regard President Trump holds for President Xi,” adding, “Trump has repeatedly emphasized his deep respect for President Xi and the strong personal friendship they have built.”

Pengpai reported that President Trump had originally planned to build a lavish stage on the east side of the White House to welcome President Xi, but the plan fell through due to political constraints within the United States. Director Wu explained that when it became impossible to hold a welcome banquet on the stage President Trump had emphasized, he responded by attending the airport in person.

Chinese media also highlighted how President Trump greeted President Xi and saw him off until he departed by car. Amid the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, this appears to be a positive assessment of President Trump’s friendly attitude.