President Benigno Aquino III, left, walks with Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao after they inspected honor of guards during a welcoming ceremony at Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
BEIJING—Chinese President Hu Jintao formally welcomed President Aquino at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday.
The national anthems of the two countries were played and the two leaders trooped the line of Chinese soldiers, navy men and air force personnel.
The two leaders then went into a bilateral meeting after the formal ceremonies.
They are expected to witness the signing of several agreements between the two countries before a state banquet is held in President Aquino’s honor.
President Aquino is on a state visit to China to promote trade relations between the two countries and smoothen tensions arising from the two countries’ conflicting claims to the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea. A contingent of big businessmen from the Philippines accompanied President Aquino to China.