PM Prachanda attends welcoming banquet in Hangzhou

CHINA, Sep 23: The special guests who arrived in Hangzhou City in China to participate in the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games were welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping with a banquet. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' also participated in the welcoming banquet.

Special guests including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma, Crown Prince of Kuwait Mishal-Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of East Timor Xanana Gusmao, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Speaker of the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia, Johari bin Abdul, and his wife Noleni, Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Randhir Singh, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, Princess Sophie as the representative of Sultan of Brunei, Jordan's Prince Faisal, Thailand's Princess Sirivannavari Mahidol and other representatives of Royal families were present in the banquet according to Beijing-based China Radio International.

Addressing the banquet, President Xi welcomed the special guests and said, "Together with the Olympic Council of Asia and the delegations of various countries and regions, we want to present the sports competition to the world with Chinese specialities and Asian style and grandeur."

Athletes from 45 countries out of 48 countries in Asia are participating in this tournament. 253 players from Nepal are participating in 29 games.