Kung fu Kate! Duchess meets Jackie Chan as she turns on the style again at reception for Chinese president - but what was the gift that made China's First Lady burst out laughing?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by kung fu star Jackie Chan as they met Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife at an event to mark the second day of their state visit to Britain.

Stealing the show in a plum-coloured lace dress, Kate looked relaxed as she greeted First Lady Peng Liyuan, a style icon in her own right, outside Lancaster House, in London, where the group attended the showcase highlighting the creative ties between the two nations.

Film icon Chan was happy to speak to guests as the group viewed exhibitions from some of the UK's most popular TV offerings, including Poldark and Sherlock, and chatted with stars from the stage and screen.

This afternoon, Mr Xi is joining the Prime Minister at Downing Street for a working lunch and talks with Cabinet ministers. The Government hopes this week’s state visit will secure more than £30 billion of trade deals, including huge investments in infrastructure projects.

Tonight the visiting dignitaries will attend a banquet at Guildhall, hosted by the Lord Mayor and the City of London.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, right, posed with Chinese president Xi Jinping and his wife, left, and Jackie Chan, centre, today

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Chinese president Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Lancaster House

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Kung fu star Jackie Chan, pictured in white, meets president Xi, right, and the Duchess of Cambridge at the event at Lancaster House

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The Duchess of Cambridge chose a purple lace dress for the visit to the event, which celebrates the cultural ties between the two countries

Day two of the four-day state visit started with a visit to Imperial College London with the Duke of York and Chancellor George Osborne. The university is China's leading research partner in Britain and today announced a raft of new initiatives that will further strengthen their ties.

It was followed by the event at Lancaster House, which showcased some of the creative collaborations between China and Britain. 

Mr Xi, Madame Peng and the Duke and

The royal party then went inside to meet with British TV, film and theatre actors, including watching exhibitions and demonstrations by Poldark, BBC Earth, Sherlock, and the Society of London Theatre.

They were also seen viewing iconic props from British TV, including a Tardis and Dalek from Doctor Who. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge later posed for a photo alongside Mr Xi, Madame Peng and Jackie Chan - who happily posed for selfies with other guests.

This afternoon, Mr Cameron is hosting president Xi for a working lunch at Downing Street.

It will be followed by talks with members of the Cabinet including the Chancellor, Home Secretary Theresa May, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, International Development Secretary Justine Greening and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd.

Tomorrow will see a more private day for the visiting dignitaries, as the couple join David and Samantha Cameron at their country retreat Chequers. It has been reported the party will enjoy a pub lunch of traditional fish and chips before a private dinner at the stately home. 

Duchess of Cambridge were forced to brave the wet autumn weather as they looked at a black cab, London red bus and Aston Martin sports car in the courtyard of the historic house.

Aston Martin has unveiled a £50 million deal with China Equity to develop its zero-emission RapidE sports car. While London Taxi Company owner Geely, a Chinese firm, has also announced a further £50 million investment to launch a new fleet of zero emission-capable black cabs.

Meanwhile, British bus builder Alexander Dennis Limited is to join forces with Chinese firm BYD to build 200 next-generation buses.

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After attending the creative reception, Chinese president Xi Jinping joined the Prime Minister for a working lunch at Downing Street

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The Duchess of Cambridge and Mr Xi were photographed at a BAFTA presentation at the event at Lancaster House

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, left, Mr Xi and Madame Peng, right with duchess, were forced to brave the wet autumn weather

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The president, his wife and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paused to speak to actors during the reception at Lancaster House

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As part of the showcase, the group viewed a prototype for a new London bus, which will be built in partnership with a Chinese firm

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The group viewed a number of TV props from some of Britain's top TV shows, including a Tardis, left, and Dalek, centre, from Doctor Who

This afternoon, the Prime Minister and president Xi will then attend a press conference, although only Mr Cameron is expected to face questions from journalists. The business theme of the day will continue with a UK-China summit at Mansion House.

The meeting is expected to be dominated by significant agreements on Chinese investment in UK infrastructure, as well as opportunities for British companies to expand into China. 

President Xi will preside over the signing of a deal to build a nuclear power station in Britain as Prime Minister David Cameron seeks to clinch £30billion ($46 billion) in contracts with the world's second-largest economy.

Cameron is pitching Britain as the pre-eminent Western gateway for investment from China, though the warmth of the reception for the Communist leader has raised some eyebrows with allies and drawn criticism that London is ignoring human rights. 

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The royal couple were on hand to greet the visiting dignitaries, in what has been seen as an indication of the important role they play

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The Duchess of Cambridge looked relaxed as she spoke to Madame Peng outside the reception at Lancaster House

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The Duchess wore her hair in her trademark curls for the event, as she met the visiting dignitaries for the second time during their trip

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The Duke and Duchess, centre, and Mr Xi and Madame Peng, left, listened to a presentation in front of giant LEGO pieces at the reception

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After the reception, the Duke of Cambridge held an umbrella over his wife as the couple waved goodbye to the president and Madame Peng

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen chatting outside Lancaster House, left. Right, the duchess looked elegant in a lace dress

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The president, centre, appeared relaxed as he spoke to the Duke of Cambridge outside the creative industry showcase in London

Downing Street insists that Mr Cameron will raise concerns about China’s human rights record in private. But Mr Xi will face no public criticism, as ministers focus on trade. 

At Prime Minister's Questions today, MPs called on Mr Cameron to 'walk the walk' and challenge the Chinese government over the dumping of cheap steel, which has been blamed for the loss of thousands of jobs in Britain.

A series of Labour MPs condemned the Prime Minister for failing to honour his pledge to protect the British steel industry. But a furious Mr Cameron attacked the 'self-righteous lectures' and pointed out that under Labour steel production in Britain halved. 

The Prime Minister added: 'We can't in this house set the world price of steel. We can't overcome in this house that the SSI plant (in Teesside) had lost £600million in this Parliament.'

The Prime Minister pledged to raise the issue President Xi Jinping over talks in Downing Street this afternoon.