Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting US President Barack Obama started official talks in Beijing on Tuesday morning to discuss bilateral ties and global issues of mutual concern.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets visiting US President Barack Obama following a grand welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009. [Fan Rujun/Xinhua]

The official talks were held at the Great Hall of the People after a close-door meeting between the two presidents.

It is their third meeting this year following one in London in April and another in New York in September.

Obama is on his first state visit to China on Nov. 15-18 as guest of Hu. He kicked off the visit on Sunday in Shanghai.

Chinese President Hu Jintao holds official talks with visiting US President Barack Obama at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 17, 2009. [Huang Jingwen/Xinhua]