Chinese President Xi Jinping attends state banquet in his honour

(26 Mar 2014) Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan attended a state banquet in their honour in Lyon on Tuesday evening after their arrival for a three-day state visit to France to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The Franco-Chinese relationship initiated by then leaders Charles De Gaulle and Mao Zedong. Xi and Peng dined with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and other local officials in Lyon's City Hall. Ahead of the dinner, Xi sampled regional delicacies from the Rhone-Alpes. The President is expected to fly to Paris on Wednesday to be welcomed by French President Francois Hollande at the Hotel Des Invalides, followed by a bilateral and state dinner inside the Elysee Palace. He is also set to visit UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on Thursday and meet leaders of the Senate and National Assembly. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...