BEIJING, Nov. 12  -- Chinese President Xi Jinping started talks with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Before their talks, Xi held a red-carpet ceremony to welcome Obama, who arrived in Beijing Monday to attend the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting and pay a state visit to China at Xi's invitation.

On Tuesday evening, the two heads of state held a meeting already at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing after the APEC meeting.