A grand reception hosted by China's State Council has started in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this afternoon to mark China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

At 17:00 (Beijing time), Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Li Peng, Premier Zhu Rongji, Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Li Ruihuan, Vice-President Hu Jintao, Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Communist Party of China Central Committee Wei Jianxing, Li Lanqing, and other senior officials entered the banquet hall inside the Great Hall, where over 4,000 Chinese and foreign guests

had already gathered.

Zhu is to deliver a speech soon.