At the invitation of US Vice President Joe Biden, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington DC in the afternoon of February 13, kicking off an official visit to the US.

At 14:20, February 13 local time, Xi's charter flight landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington DC. Chinese Ambassador to the US Zhang Yesui boarded the flight to welcome Xi.

A red carpet was laid at the Andrews Air Force Base airport and ceremonial soldiers lined at the two sides of the carpet to receive the distinguished guest. Xi stepped off the flight and shook hands cordially with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Ambassador to China Gary Locke, Chief of Protocol of the Department of State Capricia Penavic Marshall and other senior US officials. A young woman from the Chinese embassy in the US presented flowers to Xi.

Xi Jinping said in a written statement at the airport that he was very glad to pay the official visit to the US at the invitation of Vice President Biden. His visit aims at implementing the important consensus President Hu Jintao reached with President Obama during Hu's visit to the US January last year and promoting the China-US cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. He brought with him the sincere greetings of President Hu and the Chinese people to the American people.

With the joint efforts of the older generation of leaders of China and the US 40 years ago, marked by President Nixon's visit to China and the issuance of the China-US Shanghai Communiqué, the door of China-US relations was opened again. Since then, despite going through twists and turns, the bilateral relations have advanced continuously, bringing significant benefit to the two countries and two peoples and exerting far-reaching influence on peace, stability and prosperity of Asia Pacific and the world at large, said Xi.

He pointed out that today the international situation continues undergoing complex and profound changes and China and the US share wider common interests and shoulder more important common responsibilities. At the new historical starting point, whether the two sides can seize the opportunity to resolve challenges and build the cooperative partnership has great importance to the future of our two countries and the whole world. He looks forward to making positive and pragmatic explorations with the US side to boost the sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations through his visit. He also expects to extensively reach out to the American people from all walks of life, conduct dialogue and exchanges, discuss cooperation and consolidate friendship with them.

During the visit, Xi will meet with President Obama and hold talks with Vice President Biden. He will also meet with the US congressional leaders and former politicians and conduct wide contacts and exchanges with all sectors of the American society. In addition to Washington DC, Xi will visit Iowa, the major agricultural state of central US and Los Angeles in the west coast of California.

The US is the first stop of Xi's visit to the three American, European and Asian countries. He will also pay an official visit to Ireland and Turkey.