President Hu holds welcome banquet for Obama

Chinese President Hu Jintao hosted a banquet for visiting US President Barack Obama in Beijing. Tuesday evening's banquet was held after the two presidents held talks in the Great Hall of the People.

This is the first state reception dinner since the golden banquet room was newly decorated.

President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart arrive together.

A multi-course dinner featuring Chinese prawns, soups and other elaborate dishes is served. The dishes offered the US president a taste of elite Chinese cuisine and culture.

Chinese artists greeted the American guests with their performances. A combination of Peking Opera, Chinese folk music, ethnic songs, acrobatics and even western style performances are displayed. The US president and other American guests enjoy the show.

At the end of the banquet, college students from both countries perform the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, "You and Me", and the American song "That's what friends are for". The students' performance puts the finishing touches on the gathering.