China's Xi kicks off state visit to Washington on Wednesday with a rare planeside welcome from Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to begin a state visit to Washington on Wednesday. President Donald Trump is expected to greet Xi directly on the tarmac upon his arrival, a departure from standard protocol where a visiting leader typically drives up to the White House.

The unusual planeside welcome by the U.S. president is designed to honor the Chinese leader despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United States and China.