VIPs across world arrive in Beijing on eve of Olympics

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-08 01:49

BEIJING--Most guests on the Olympic Games' attendance list have arrived here as nearly 50 foreign guests poured into Beijing on Thursday, a day before the opening of the Olympics.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived on Thursday and both were greeted by Chinese government representative, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi.

U.S. President George W. Bush arrives with wife Laura at Beijing Capital International Airport August 7, 2008 on the eve of the 29th Olympiad. More than 80 state leaders and royals are expected to attend the opening of the August 8-24 Games. [Agencies]

Thursday's arrivals also included Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Vietnamese President Nugyen Minh Triet, etc.

China rolled out the red carpet for all the guests coming for the Games. The Beijing Capital International Airport has received guests from nearly 70 countries as of Thursday.

The Olympic Games will kick off on Friday, and more than 80 state leaders and royals are expected to attend the opening ceremony and related events.

According to sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, another 11 leaders including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-bak will arrive on Friday to attend the opening ceremony, which is scheduled to start at 8:08 p.m.