Chinese President Xi Jinping Visits the U.S. After 6 Years... Protesters and Supporters Gather at the Site

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the United States on the 14th (local time) for the first time in six years, and according to Bloomberg News, protesters and supporters gathered at the scene.

According to the report, President Xi arrived in San Francisco, USA, at around 3 p.m. local time that day, and was greeted by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

It was reported that supporters, consisting of Chinese students and immigrants, traveled by bus to California and gathered there. Chong Ziyan, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said, "It is a common practice to mobilize the local Chinese community and Chinese citizens to welcome the top leader," adding, "It can project a strong image."

Xinhua News Agency reported that President Xi entered the country accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister. It also reported that as he moved to the hotel, he was welcomed by numerous representatives of overseas Chinese and student representatives along the roadside.

However, Bloomberg News reported that the image of a "welcomed leader" that China hoped for was dashed due to sporadic protests near the summit venue. According to Bloomberg, a plane flew over the Moscone Center, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held, with the words "End the Chinese Communist Party, Free China, Free Hong Kong, Free Tibet, Free Uyghurs" written on it. Additionally, a Chinese woman holding a banner requesting "Return my husband" to Shanghai authorities and a man holding a placard denouncing China's forced detention camps were seen.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Both sides have made efforts to ensure that President Xi's visit to the U.S. and the U.S.-China summit proceed smoothly. In particular, China recently reached out to the U.S. by purchasing 3 million tons of American soybeans. U.S. President Joe Biden also told reporters at the White House just before departing for San Francisco that "What we want to do is improve the relationship."

Before his meeting with President Biden, President Xi drew attention by emphasizing increased economic cooperation with Taiwan. According to Xinhua News Agency, President Xi sent a letter to the Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit held in Nanjing the previous day, stating, "The economies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the Chinese national economy, and compatriots on both sides are a community with a shared future," emphasizing, "The entrepreneurs' summit should promote peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations and help realize China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Meanwhile, this visit marks President Xi's first trip to the United States in six years since he visited Florida in 2017 to hold talks with then-U.S. President Donald Trump on trade and North Korea's nuclear issues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.