President Hu Jintao attends a full-dress welcoming ceremony in London yesterday. Hosted by British Queen Elizabeth II, the ceremony featured royal guards of honor and a 21-cannon salute. - Xinhua

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing pose for a group photo with British Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip in London on Nov. 8, 2005. -Xinhua

At the invitation of British Queen Elizabeth II, Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in London yesterday to pay a state visit to Britain.

President Hu was greeted at the Heathrow Airport by Princess Anne, who represented her mother Queen Elizabeth II. Later, the Queen held a full-dress welcoming ceremony in downtown Horse Guards, featuring royal guards of honor and salute of 21 cannons.

In an arrival statment, Hu said both China and Britain are countries with a time-honored history and splendid culture and that there have been long-standing exchanges between Chinese and British peoples.

"In recent years, China-UK relationship has maintained a sound momentum of growth, and cooperation in various fields has produced fruitful results. Further developing the China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples," he said in the statement.

Hu said that he was looking forward to an in-depth exchange of views with British leaders on China-UK relations and current major international and regional issues as well as to extensive contact with British people from all walks of life.

"I hope that this visit will further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our two countries and two peoples, promote bilateral cooperation in all fields and continue to push forward the China-UK comprehensive strategic relationship," he said.

The Chinese president is expected to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair and deliver a speech on bilateral and international issues today.

Britain is the first leg of the Chinese president's European and Asian trip during which he will also visit Germany, Spain and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and attend the 13th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting to be held in Busan, ROK, from Nov. 18 to 19.