Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived at the White House on Thursday evening to attend a welcome banquet held by U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump.
Honor guards and a military band were in position to welcome Xi and Peng as their limousine arrived.
Earlier on Thursday, Xi and Peng attended a grand welcome ceremony held by Trump and Melania at the White House.
At the invitation of Trump, Xi is on a state visit to the United States from Wednesday to Friday.
Xi, Peng arrive at White House for welcome banquet
U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 161.61 points, or 0.31 percent, to 51,349.98. The S and P 500 sank 1.9 points, or 0.02 percent, to 7,704.13. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 3.34 points, or 0.01 percent, to 26,939.37.
Seven of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in the red, with utilities and materials leading the laggards by losing 1.02 percent and 1.01 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, communication services and health led the gainers by going up 1.92 percent and 0.65 percent, respectively.
U.S. stocks close mixed
