Former United States president Bill Clinton [Images] arrived by special plane on Wednesday morning to a red carpet welcome amid tight security at the Amausi airport in Lucknow.

He was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, his Cabinet colleagues, UP Development Council Chairman Amar Singh and top civil and police officials.

The former US president was accompanied by a team of US officials, security personnel and some industrialists.

Clinton would attend a dinner hosted by the chief minister at his official residence, which has been converted into a fortress with unprecedented security arrangements.

Some 150 VIPs including top industrialists, UPDC members, a galaxy of Bollywood stars and a select group of senior journalists have been invited to attend the dinner.

Clinton's other engagements in the state capital have been kept a guarded secret due to security reasons. He is scheduled to leave for Beijing [Images] after attending the dinner.