Obama welcomes Chinese president Xi to the White House: World leaders ditch ties for informal meeting ahead of crunch talks and a grand state dinner

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Vice President Biden met president Xi Jinping at Andrews Air Force Base
Chinese president then went to Washington to meet President Obama
World leaders enjoyed an informal dinner with Biden, Kerry and Susan Rice
Tomorrow the visit starts in proper, with a 21-gun salute and a state dinner
Black-tie affair will see guests dine on Maine lobster and Colorado lamb
Obama and Xi are expected to lock horns on cyber attacks and territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Published: 22:34 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 23:26 EST, 24 September 2015

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President Obama has welcomed China's president Xi Jinping to the White House ahead of crunch talks on cyber attacks and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The pair enjoyed an informal dinner at Blair House this evening, with both world leaders ditching their ties as they chatted with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Security Adviser Susan Rice.

Xi will be treated to full honors on Friday, including a 21-gun salute, a formal summit, a joint news conference and a black-tie state dinner in the evening.

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President Obama has welcomed China's president Xi Jinping to the White House ahead of crunch talks on cyber attacks and territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Relaxed: The pair enjoyed an informal dinner at Blair House this evening, with both world leaders ditching their ties

Obama met for an informal dinner with Xi, alongside (from left to right) Vice President Joe Biden, US Ambassador to China Max Baucus, Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and National Security Adviser Susan Rice

The state visit will formally begin Friday morning with an elaborate welcome ceremony on the White House South Lawn, two days after the event there for Pope Francis, though with a much smaller crowd.

The leaders will then hold private talks in the Oval Office before taking questions in a joint Rose Garden news conference.

A highlight of the visit will be the state dinner, a black-tie affair where guests will dine on Maine lobster and Colorado lamb.

The Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by Vice President Biden and Jill Biden as they landed at Andrews Air Force Base, not long after the Pope had departed the same runway for New York.

The White House hastily changed flags flying in front of the presidential home from the Vatican's to those of China in time for Xi's arrival.

So far the president's visit to America has taken him to Seattle, where he reassured US companies - including Apple and Facebook - that China is economically safe after its recent struggles.

Obama (pictured after the meeting) and Xi will make a joint announcement on climate change on Friday

Obama is expected to press Xi to follow through on economic reforms and refrain from discrimination against US companies operating in China

The Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by Vice President Biden and Jill Biden as they landed at Andrews Air Force Base

Obama and Xi will make a joint announcement on climate change on Friday, building on last year's breakthrough announcement where both countries agreed to halt or reduce emissions.

No such grand plans are thought to be made official on this occasion, however they are expected to discuss the growing issues of cyber security and China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea, which has angered Asia-Pacific allies of the US.

Washington is considering sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals it accuses of stealing US trade secrets, however Beijing says it does not support firms believed to behind the attacks.

Obama is also expected to press Xi to follow through on economic reforms and refrain from discrimination against US companies operating in China.

The President may have more leverage due to China's slowing economic growth, which has destabilized global markets and put Xi under pressure to turn China's fortunes around.

At the same time, the Obama administration is still at a loss about how to curb China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, where Beijing has continued to reclaim land for potential military use despite conflicting sovereignty claims by China and its neighbors.

Meanwhile Michelle Obama and Xi's wife Peng Liyuan will visit the National Zoo on Friday to look at the giant pandas, possibly including a cub born last month.