Xi offers hand of friendship to Trump

US president and his wife enjoy warm hospitality as they arrive in Chinese capital for 'state visit-plus'

With an elaborate welcoming ceremony at Beijing Capital International Airport and a tour arranged at the Forbidden City, President Xi Jinping gave his US counterpart Donald Trump a warm welcome at the beginning of his three-day state visit.

From the time Air Force One landed at Beijing airport on Wednesday afternoon, the "state visit-plus" treatment for hosting Trump was rolled out, with a guard of honor, a military band and hundreds of elementary school students greeting the US president.