Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday started his first official visit to China by extending his "very best wishes" for the success of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Hours after landing in the chilly morning, the 76-year-old leader visited Beijing's Olympic Project Exhibition Center, beside the iconic Bird's Nest, which displays models of the main sports venues in the Olympic Village.
After about half an hour's tour in the center accompanied by Chen Gang, vice-mayor of Beijing, Singh said he was impressed by the "inspiration and talent" of the Chinese.
"I congratulate the people of China on the remarkable progress they have made in preparing for the Olympics in August," said Singh, wearing a blue turban and clad in a gray overcoat.
"My very best wishes to the people of China, particularly the sportsmen and sportswomen, for the success of the Olympics," he said.
He said that Beijing's preparations for the Games are a source of inspiration for India, which will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
The trip to the Olympic center was yesterday's only public activity for Singh, who is accompanied by more than 50 journalists and about 40 high-level business leaders on his visit, during which he hopes to impart "substantive content" between the world's two most populous countries.
Premier Wen Jiabao hosted a private dinner for Singh at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse last night. The two leaders will hold formal talks today and also attend the foundation ceremony of a China-India joint medical team.
Singh will deliver a speech, to be broadcast live, at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences tomorrow morning, and meet with President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo in the afternoon.
The two countries are expected to sign agreements in fields as diverse as land management, housing, traditional medicine, railways and geosciences during the visit.
In an interview to Xinhua before the trip, Singh said he came to China "with a view to shaping a relationship that befits our two countries and our future generations".
Analysts believe Singh's visit can be a pivot on which the dragon and the elephant will dance more closely on the global arena.
Questions:
1. How many times previously has the Indian Prime Minister officially visited China?
2. How old is India’s Prime Minister?
3. What was the first stop on the visiting Prime Minister’s schedule?
4. Why was Indian Prime Minister Singh interested in China’s preparation for the Olympics?
Answers:
1.This is his first official visit.
2.76.
3.At the Olympic Project Exhibition Center which is located next to the Bird’s Nest.
4.Because India will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan is an Australian who has been involved in education and writing for over a decade. He has published most recently for the Tiger Airways Inflight magazine, The Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times and Japan's Hiroshima Outside Magazine. He holds a Masters Degree in Community Development and Management and has resided in China for over 3 years.
