Jiang Hosts Welcome Ceremony for US President Bush

Chinese President Jiang Zemin hosted a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People Thursday morning to welcome visiting US President George W. Bush.

The two heads of state introduced, respectively, Chinese and US officials attending the ceremony.

A Chinese military band played national anthems of the two countries.

Accompanied by President Jiang, President Bush reviewed the guard of honor of the three services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Attending the ceremony from the Chinese side were Jiang's wife Wang Yeping, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhou Guangzhao, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ye Xuanping, Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association Cheng Siwei, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi, Yang's wife Yue Aimei, Deputy Chief of the PLA General Staff Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee You Xigui, and Assistant to Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong.

The US guests attending the ceremony included Bush's wife Laura Bush, Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chief of Staff of White House Andrew Card and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2002)