Chinese President Visits Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 14, 2001

Chinese President Visits Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited the Shwedagon Pagoda, a buddhist pagoda known as the oriental treasure of art, Thursday morning, accompanied by Myanmar Foreign Minister U Win Aung and Minister of Religious Affairs U Aung Khin.

The 326-feet-high pagoda boasts a history of over 2,500 years and it is covered by more than seven tons of gold and decorated with thousands of diamonds and other precious stones.

The pagoda is surrounded by 64 smaller pagodas.

During the tour, U Win Aung briefed Jiang on the complex's architecture and sculptures and Jiang talked with him on architecture and buddhism.

Jiang wrote on the visitors' book, praising the complex as a symbol of Myanmar people's wisdom and a treasure of human culture.

The pagoda's management representative presented Jiang with a photo album of the complex.

Jiang, on behalf of the Chinese people, offered his donation.

Finally, Jiang knocked the 42-ton bell three times, which, in U Win Aung's words, has brought about happiness and good luck for the people of the two countries.

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