Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife held a banquet to welcome distinguished guests attending the 2008 Olympic Games at the Great Hall of the People on August 8, 2008 in Beijing.

President Hu Jintao, together with the foreign leaders, entered the banquet hall in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing on Friday afternoon for a grand welcome banquet.

The banquet is being held for VIPs from all over the world, who have come to the Chinese capital to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, scheduled for Friday night in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing.

Addressing a welcoming luncheon in honor of world dignitaries who are here to attend the Olympic opening ceremony, Hu said that in the course of bidding and preparing for the Games, the Chinese government and people received sincere help from governments and people of various countries, as well as strong support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Family.

"I would like to express heartfelt thanks to you and, through you, to all those who have contributed to the Beijing Olympic Games," he said in the toast.

"I also wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the international community for the warm support and valuable assistance given to China in our rescue and relief efforts after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake," he said.

"The Chinese people will remember forever the profound friendship of people throughout the world," he said.

The Beijing Olympics will kick off on Friday evening. More than 80 state leaders and royals are here to attend the opening ceremony and related events.

"The historic moment we have all been waiting for will soon arrive," Hu said. "On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, I wish to extent a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests who have come to Beijing for the Games."

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)