Members of United Kingdom’s Royal Family and politicians will greet China’s President Xi Jinping as he begins his four-day state visit to the country.
President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan will take part in a procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, ahead of a state banquet to be hosted by the Queen later.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that Britain was strengthening its relations with China.
Ministers expect more than £30bn of trade and investment deals to be struck during the visit, which will also include talks between Mr Xi and Prime Minister David Cameron.
President Xi and the first lady arrived into the UK on Monday, and are staying at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.
Among the activities that Xi is expected to be involved in during his stay are addressing both Houses of Parliament and meeting UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
The UK Treasury has expressed hopes of establishing China as Britain’s second biggest trading partner within 10 years.
The trip, the first UK state visit by a Chinese leader since 2005, has been hailed by officials from both countries as the start of a “golden era” of relations.
