US President George W. Bush held a ceremony Thursday morning on the White House South Lawn to welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is in the US for a state visit.

 

President Hu, accompanied by Bush, inspected the guard of honor after the two countries' national anthems were performed and a 21-gun salute.

 

The US and Chinese presidents then respectively gave a speech at the ceremony.

 

The two leaders later held talks at the White House on issues ranging from Sino-US relations to major international and regional issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006)