President Ronald Reagan arrived in China on April 26, 1984, to start a six-day visit - the first by an American president since President Nixon in 1972. There was a welcoming ceremony in Tiananmen Square outside the Great Hall of the People where he was greeted by Chinese President Li Xiannian with a 21-gun salute. President Reagan then attended a banquet given in his honor by President Li. He gave an address where he spoke about the need for "mutual respect and mutual benefit" between China and the United States. He said some phrases in a Chinese language.