Xi Arrives in Korea This Afternoon

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive for a state visit in Seoul on Thursday afternoon. They start their two-day schedule with an official welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae.

They then have busy separate schedules. Xi will immediately sit down with President Park Geun-hye, first for a one-on-one meeting and then an expanded meeting with their entourage.

Following the summit, they will sign an agreement and give a joint press conference before attending a state dinner.

In the meantime, Peng will tour Changdeok Palace and the Secret Garden in downtown Seoul and watch a traditional cultural performance. She will be chaperoned by Cho Yoon-sun, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs.

The following day Xi visits the office of National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa. Xi will not make a speech there, unlike his predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, but give a lecture at Seoul National University.

Park is preparing a special luncheon for the couple.

On Friday afternoon, Xi meets Prime Minister Jung Hong-won and attend a business forum in downtown Seoul with about 450 Korean and Chinese businesspeople.

The couple then meet with Chinese expats here before flying home.