Chinese premier Li meets queen, gets royal welcome at Windsor Castle on UK tour to boost ties

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, receives Chinese premier Li Keqiang at Windsor Castle, during their visit to the Britain, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Parsons, pool) (The Associated Press)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, receives Chinese premier Li Keqiang, left, and his wife Cheng Hong at Windsor Castle, during their visit to the Britain, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Parsons, pool) (The Associated Press)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, second right, arrives with British Prime Minister David Cameron, right, for a meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. The Chinese leader met with Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior government officials, and the two sides are expected to announce a slew of trade and investment deals. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) (The Associated Press)

Queen Elizabeth II has greeted at Windsor Castle the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, who is in Britain to boost trade ties and mend diplomatic relations.

A military band played to welcome Li and his wife Cheng Hong to the castle Tuesday, before the queen greeted the pair in a lavishly decorated drawing room for a brief meeting.

The Chinese leader also met with Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior government officials, and the two sides are expected to announce a slew of trade and investment deals.

Li's visit — the first since he became premier 15 months ago — is part of an effort to thaw diplomatic ties, which had cooled after Cameron met with Tibet's Dalai Lama in 2012.