China’s President Hu Jintao is here |10 February 2007

He and his spouse, Mrs Liu Yongqing, were received by President James Michel and First Lady Nathalie Michel as they stepped down from their special Boeing 747-400.

Also present to receive the Chinese leader and his delegation were Seychelles Cabinet Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, cheerful flag-waving schoolchildren who sang “Welcome President” in Mandarin, and Chinese nationals resident here.

One of the children, 10-year-old Jefna Panagary of Pointe Larue primary school, presented President Hu with a bouquet of flowers while nine-year-old Aldric Paulin presented one to Mrs Liu Yongqing. Both children told Nation they were very happy to have the honour to welcome President Hu and his spouse.

The director general of Presidential Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam, introduced Seychelles delegation to President Hu, while the Chinese director general of the Protocol Department, Luo Liquan, introduced the Chinese delegation.

After the national anthems of China and of Seychelles were played, President Hu inspected a guard of honour after which he greeted Seychellois, and the Chinese citizens resident here, before leaving the airport towards Victoria, where residents of Pointe Larue and Roche Caiman waited along his route, waved flags at the visiting President, who waved back happily.

Friday evening, President Hu and his wife were hosted to a banquet by President Michel and his wife at the Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel.