President Xi Jinping arrives in Samarkand to pay a state visit to Uzbekistan and attend the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Sept 14, 2022. At the airport, Xi was warmly greeted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, Governor of Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov and other high-level officials. [Photo/Xinhua]

Accompanied by Mirziyoyev, Xi walked through the VIP lounge at the airport where the digital screen displayed a giant photo of Xi with the words "Warmly Welcome President of the People's Republic of China H.E. Xi Jinping to Pay State Visit to Uzbekistan" in both Chinese and Uzbek.

Xi said goodbye to Mirziyoyev before leaving in the convoy. The two presidents reaffirmed the scheduled official talks Thursday and agreed to have an in-depth exchange of views on deepening China-Uzbekistan friendship.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other members of the entourage arrived by the same flight.

Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jiang Yan also greeted Xi at the airport.