President attends welcoming banquet of 16th Asian Games

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President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday attended a welcome banquet hosted by State Councillor Madam Liu Yangdong for the foreign dignitaries participating in the inaugural ceremony of 16th Asian Games.

President Zardari joined other dignitaries on the main table including Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva, President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge. They were accompanied by Governor of Guangdong province and provincial party leaders at the Baiyun international convention centre.

Chairman Board of Investment Salim Mandviwala, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan and Spokesman to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present on the occasion.

President Zardari is here on a three-day visit to attend the games and to meet Chinese and other leaders attending the inaugural ceremony.

State Councillor Madam Liu Yangdong in her welcome remarks thanked the foreign dignitaries for their presence in Guangzhou for the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, which she described as a grand event of harmonious coexistence and win-win mutual assistance among the Asian countries and peoples.

She mentioned the slogan of 16th Asian Games - "Thrilling Games, Harmonious Asia," and said; "We are confident that through the Asian Games, we the people of Asia will advance our friendship and cooperation and make fresh contributions to the building of a harmonious Asia for enduring peace and common prosperity."