President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.  

The Chinese President and First Lady were welcomed by hundreds of students in an elaborate welcome ceremony at the airport, following which they, along with the delegation, travelled to Colombo.  

A number of high-level officials were present at the airport to welcome the Chinese President and his delegation.  

Today, President Xi will join President Rajapaksa for extended bilateral discussions at the Presidential Secretariat and commission the last phase of the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant. The two leaders are also expected to join their delegations to sign more than 20 bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries.  

In the evening, President Rajapaksa and the First Lady will host a banquet in honour of the Chinese President and First Lady, and the Chinese delegation at Temple Trees.  

Tomorrow (Sept. 17), President Rajapaksa and President Xi will visit the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) to launch the construction of the Colombo Port City.