Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L, front), his wife Peng Liyuan (2nd R, front), British Queen Elizabeth II (1st L, front), and Prince Philip (1st R, front) attend a traditional ceremonial welcome in London, capital of Britain, Oct. 20, 2015. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
A traditional ceremonial welcome held by British Queen Elizabeth II for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off at noon Tuesday in central London with the presence of senior royal family members and political leaders. [Special coverage]
The Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan had been greeted by Prince Charles on behalf of the Queen at their hotel and traveled with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to Horse Guards Parade for the ceremony.
Thousands of people have lined around the Buckingham Palace and surrounding routes since early morning to welcome and greet the president, who is the first Chinese head of state to visit Britain in 10 years, initiating a "golden time" for bilateral ties.
With 41 rounds of gun salute fired from Green Park and 62 from the Tower of London, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, bathed in rare London sunshine, formally welcomed Xi and Peng at the Royal pavilion on Horse Guards Parade.
Xi, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, inspected the Guard of Honor and later joined the Queen and the Duke for a state carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, with Chinese National Anthem being played.
After riding through cheering crowds in the golden and black Diamond Jubilee Coach, Xi enjoyed a private lunch at Buckingham Palace with the Queen and viewed an exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to China.
The enthusiastic welcome from the British side for the Chinese president is a "step forward for bilateral ties" and represents "the West and the East warmly embracing each other for a better future," said Fu Xiaolan, professor of technology and international development at Oxford University.
Closer cooperation between China and Britain could "raise the living standards of ordinary people" and "send more kids to school," she said, adding that Britain's "knowledge and creativity" will also help China in its future development.
In the afternoon, Xi and Peng will visit the Palace of Westminster, where the president will deliver a speech in the Royal Gallery to members of both Houses of Parliament and other guests.
The first couple of China will then enjoy tea time with Charles and Camilla at Clarence House, while Prince William and Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, are to call on the president separately at Buckingham Palace.
A State Banquet will be held by the Queen in the evening for Xi, where the two heads of state will both address the guests.
