Jiang Hosts Welcome Ceremony for U.S. President Bush

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

Jiang Hosts Welcome Ceremony for U.S. President Bush

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

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

The two heads of state introduced, respectively, Chinese and U.S. 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 U.S. 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.

Jiang, Bush Hold Closed-door Talks

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and visiting U.S. President George W. Bush started to hold closed-door talks at the Great Hall of the People Thursday morning. The talks are still going on at press time.

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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