China Pulls Out All the Stops for Trump Arrival

China pulled out all the stops for President Trump's airport arrival in Beijing: honor guard, marching band, jumping children. The ceremony accompanying Trump's arrival Wednesday afternoon was elaborate even by China's lavish standards. Heads of state are usually given a low-key reception at the airport, with the real pomp and circumstance reserved for his or her arrival at the Great Hall of the People in the center of Beijing. As they exited Air Force One, Trump and first lady Melania Trump were met by Chinese and American dignitaries, soldiers standing stiffly at attention, a band playing martial music, and smartly attired children waving miniature Chinese and American flags while chanting, "Welcome, welcome."

The president and first lady appeared pleased, smiling and accepting flower bouquets, with Trump at one point throwing his arms open and appearing to exclaim, "Wow," the AP reports. During his two-day visit, Trump is expected to discuss issues including trade, the South China Sea, and North Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump is expected to demand that China curtail its dealings with Pyongyang and expel North Korean workers. One uncertainty for Trump: whether he will be able to use Twitter in China, which has banned the social media platform.

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