Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the southern French city of Nice at noon on Sunday, before heading to the Principality of Monaco for a state visit.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted by senior government officials of Monaco and France at the airport.

Xi's visit to Monaco is the first one by a Chinese head of state.

Monaco is the second leg of his three-nation Europe tour that has taken him to Italy. Xi will pay a state visit to France after the visit to Monaco.