The red carpet will be rolled out next week for China's first state visit in a decade. Everything from the type of fish served at the palace banquet to President Xi Jinping's personal supply of bottled water has been planned in exhausting detail.
The UK establishment extends an invitation to just one or two official state visits every year, and the Chinese stay has been proffered with all the available fanfare. Prince William travelled to Beijing in March to personally deliver the request, known as a manu Chinese President Xi Jinping, because it is written in the Queen's hand.
The Telegraph, Oct 17, 2015