Los Angeles is Vice President Xi Jinping's last leg of his first official trip to the United States.This is the first time in 13 years a high-level Chinese official has visited the city.

After a farewell to old friends in Iowa, Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon to continue his official tour of the United States. Xi was welcomed at the Los Angeles International Airport by local officials.

The port at Los Angeles boasts the highest cargo volume of goods arriving from China.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R, front) waves to crew as he tours China Shipping at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Feb. 16, 2012. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Xi praised its contributions to developing China-US economic ties. He also toured China Shipping’s cargo terminal at the Los Angeles Port, the nation’s second-largest shipping line. It is currently undergoing a 121 million dollar expansion, due for completion in 2014, that will more than double its area to 142 acres.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (2nd, R) shakes hands with an employee as he tours China Shipping at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Feb. 16, 2012. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Analysts say the trip could offer an important Sino-American relationship-building opportunity for the shipping industry.

Earlier on Thursday, Xi attended the first China-US Agriculture Symposium and visited a local farm in Iowa.

During the symposium, a five-year Plan of Strategic Cooperation to guide discussions on food security, safety and sustainable agriculture was signed between the two countries.

Xi said, "It will have great significance and far-reaching influence if the cooperation between the two large agricultural countries can rise to a strategic level in order to achieve mutual benefit and shared progress."

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) addresses the U.S.-China High Level Agricultural Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, the United States, Feb. 16, 2012. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Xi will later attend a banquet with the city’s Chinese-American business community. He is also set to speak at a business conference in downtown Los Angeles, tour a school with Vice President Joe Biden, and conclude his trip on Friday night by watching an NBA basketball game.

Los Angeles is the third and final leg of Xi’s US visit. He will next visit Ireland and Turkey after ending his US tour Friday.