For the first time as China's top leader, President Xi Jinping has set foot in the United States, this time to meet with his counterpart President Barack Obama and CEOs of top U.S. companies. The state visit centers on agreements on politics, cybersecurity, military and economy, among others.
Joined by CEOs of China's top 15 companies, President Xi started his tour by attending the Eighth U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum at Microsoft headquarters in Seattle, on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Staff at Microsoft welcomed him and his delegates by holding national flags and signs at their Seattle headquarters.
The following day, Xi met Obama, and the two walked along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Blair House, across a street from the White House, for a meeting. The day ended with a private dinner, a prelude to the state dinner on Friday, Sept. 25.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Chinese president attended a presentation ceremony at the U.N. headquarters to bestow a "Zun of Peace" in recognition of the world body's 70th anniversary. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the token. With the symbolic gift came Xi's pledge to aid the United Nations in its fight against poverty by giving $2 billion to boost the latter's efforts.