Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit to the United States, where he is due to hold a summit with US President Donald Trump, state media reports.
Xi is traveling with his wife, Peng Liyuan, and senior Chinese officials, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
He is expected to be received by Trump at Joint Base Andrews, located just outside Washington D.C., upon his arrival Wednesday.
Xi’s entourage includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of its General Office, as well as Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to formally welcome Xi and Peng to the White House on Thursday, with a state arrival ceremony preceding talks between the two presidents.
The visit marks Xi’s first state visit to the US in more than a decade.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations and a range of economic and strategic issues during their summit.
Xi’s visit comes after Trump traveled to China in May, when the two sides held talks on trade, investment and broader bilateral relations.
The Chinese president’s US visit is scheduled to run through Friday.