Special report: Li Changchun Visits Five Countries

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, holds a girl at the airport in Damascus, Syria, Thursday afternoon (local time), April 3, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, returned home on Friday after his five-nation tour in north Africa and west Asia.

    He paid an official and good-will visit to Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunis and Syria from March 21 to April 4.

    Li's entourage, including head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee Ji Bingxuan, head of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Wang Taihua, director of the General Administration of Press and Publications Liu Binjie, and vice-minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo, returned aboard the same plane.

Senior CPC official meets Syrian president on bilateral ties

Li Changchun(L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, April 3, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DAMASCUS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on bilateral relations here on Thursday.

    Li said the friendship between China and Syria has weathered the tests of ever-changing international situations and is the common wealth of the two peoples. Full story