Bush Arrives in Beijing and Starts China Visit

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 21, 2002

Bush Arrives in Beijing and Starts China Visit

U.S. President George W. Bush' s presidential plane Air Force One has landed at the Capital Airport in Beijing.

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Bush Arrives in Beijing and Starts China Visit

U.S. President George W. Bush' s presidential plane Air Force One has landed at the Capital Airport in Beijing.

Close to 100 Chinese and foreign reporters have gathered at the airport to cover Bush's arrival.

The motorcade of U.S. President George W. Bush has left the Capital Airport for downtown Beijing, where Chinese President Jiang Zemin will host a ceremony to welcome the U.S. president.

The two heads of state will hold talks after the ceremony.

Jiang and Bush will hold talks later on Thursday to exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, after which the two heads of state will jointly meet the press, according to sources at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This will be the second meeting between Jiang and Bush in four months. The two met for the first time during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Meeting held in Shanghai in October last year.

Also on Bush's agenda in the Chinese capital will be a speech at a local prestigious university, and a visit to the Great Wall, according to the sources.

Bush's visit occurs on the 30th anniversary of U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, which is known as an "ice-breaking journey" in the history of Sino-U.S. relations.

Bush Visit Another Milestone: U.S. Ambassador

The visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to China will be "another important milestone" in building the cooperative and constructive relationship between the United States and China, said U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt Jr. in an interview at the eve of Bush's upcoming China visit.

President Bush's China visit will coincidentally take place on the same day as former President Richard Nixon's historical "ice-breaking" visit three decades ago.

"We are very delighted that the President could schedule his visit on this momentous day," Randt said, noting it is also important to know that this is the first time a sitting American President has ever set his foot on China twice within four months during his term in office, a movement that clearly indicates the importance President Bush attaches to the bilateral relationship.

Nixon's 1972 'Ice-Breaking' Visit to China

February 22, 1972, People's Daily Front Page

Thirty years ago today, the then U.S. President Richard Nixon started his "ice-breaking" visit to China, marking the beginning of a normalization process for relations between China and the United States.

Accompanied by Secretary of State William Rogers and Henry Kissinger, adviser to the president for national security affairs,Nixon and his wife arrived in Beijing on February 21, 1972.

The late Chairman Mao Zedong paid special attention to Nixon's visit. Immediately after Nixon finished his luncheon following his arrival, Mao met with the American guest in his study. The two leaders had a candid exchange of views on major issues of common concern.

Substantive talks on the international situation and bilateral relations, lasting four days in Beijing, were held by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Nixon, Kissinger and some other officials.

Chairman Mao Zedong Shook Hands with President Nixon

Nixon and his wife visited the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and the Imperial Palace during their stay in Beijing.

On February 26, accompanied by Zhou, Nixon and his wife left Beijing for Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, where they toured the picturesque West Lake.

On February 27, still accompanied by Zhou, Nixon and his wife arrived in Shanghai. They left China for the United States the following day.

On February 28, 1972, the historic Shanghai Communique was issued by the People's Republic of China and the United States of America.

This diplomatic document, which has been of great significance for Sino-U.S. relations, does not conform with the usual style of communiques.

In the Shanghai Communique, the two sides expressed what they agreed as well as what they differed on bilateral and international issues.

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