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Editor's note: China continued its "state visit-plus" reception for US President Donald Trump on Thursday, with special arrangements at a number of official events in Beijing. China Daily brings you a detailed account of the events and exchanges between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart.
Bells chime for friendship
A special performance of chimes, known in Chinese as bianzhong, was arranged for US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.
Melodies greeted President Xi Jinping and Trump as they walked in the Great Hall of the People to the venue of their talks, following the welcoming ceremony outside the hall.
The ancient musical instruments, which first appeared around 3,000 years ago, were displayed at the Great Hall to display the rich traditions and long history of Chinese culture to the high-level US guests.
The artists performed music specially composed for the event by the president of China Conservatory of Music.
The bells of bianzhong, cast in bronze, are oval and of different sizes arranged to the order of the pitch. They are hung on a large wooden frame.
The bells are struck with a wooden mallet or a long stick to produce the tones.
International welcome
A group of Chinese elementary school students is usually invited to take part in welcoming ceremonies hosted by President Xi for foreign leaders on state visits to China, at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.
Thursday's ceremony reflected the special arrangements being made for Trump's visit, with 10 US schoolchildren joining their Chinese counterparts next to the military band greeting Xi and Trump.
As the two leaders walked by, they stepped up to the children and greeted them.
The music played by the People's Liberation Army Band included special arrangements for the visiting top US leader.
After Xi and Trump examined the PLA honor guard, the band played the US march The Stars and Stripes Forever, composed by John Philip Sousa. It is the national march of the United States.
Fine cuisine
Delicate Chinese cuisine and popular Western dishes made a great mix for the menu at the State Banquet at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday evening.
Among the five hot dishes served, Kung Pao Chicken caught the eyes of the guests as the Chinese dish is also popular in Chinese restaurants in the United States.
Coconut-flavored chicken soup showed the evolving side of Chinese food, while stewed beef steak in tomato sauce and seafood chowder expressed elements of Western cuisine.
As the banquet started, all the guests had their attention caught by a video aired on the giant LED screens at the front.
The new video, of about six minutes and 30 seconds, collected moments of the three key interactions between Xi and Trump — in April at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida; in July in Hamburg, Germany; and the Trumps' visit to Beijing starting on Wednesday.
Trump's granddaughter Arabella Kushner appeared twice in the video, speaking in fluent Chinese at Mar-a-Lago and in a recent video message sent to Xi.
Footage from the two first ladies' visiting a local elementary school in Beijing earlier on Thursday was also included.
