Chinese President Hu Jintao holds a welcome ceremony for visiting US President Barack Obama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for visiting US President Barack Obama on Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese President Hu Jintao holds a welcome ceremony for visiting US President Barack Obama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009.[Xinhua]

The summit meeting between President Hu and Obama is scheduled to be held at 10:40 am after the welcome ceremony. The two leaders will meet the press after the talks.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet President Obama on Tuesday afternoon.

President Obama will also visit the Palace Museum, or the Forbidden City, and attend a state banquet in his honor hosted by President Hu.