El Salvador's Sánchez Cerén hailed by China's Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted El Salvador's leader, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, pledging aid to the Central American country months after it switched allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing.

The Chinese leader welcomed Sanchez Ceren with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People,  then inked deals pledging to cooperate on development, including on Xi's pet Belt and Road trade infrastructure project. Beijing also promised aid for education, health and drought relief.

Sanchez told Xi he was "representing the El Salvadoran people to show you how grateful we are and our satisfaction now that we have restored our diplomatic relations".