Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a welcoming ceremony for U.S. President Obama in Beijing on Wednesday after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, followed by a bilateral meeting.

The two leaders inspected a guard of honour in the north hall of the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday morning.

China and the United States have agreed to significantly extend the terms of short-term visas, Obama said on Monday in Beijing during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting week, a deal he said would improve trade and business ties between the world's two largest economies.

Obama is also expected to meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang before flying to an East Asia Summit in Myanmar on Wednesday afternoon.