Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) joins
pupils to form a map of China with eggshells at Jushan Primary School in
the Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day
ahead of the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Lan
Hongguang) Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao visited two primary schools in Beijing Sunday, joining children in
language classes, games and kite painting, and wishing them a healthy and bright
future.
Hu made the visits on the eve of the annual
International Children's Day, which falls on Monday and will be celebrated by
about 250 million children under the age of 14 across the country.
Hu first went to Jushan Primary School, where 90
percent of some 700 students are children of migrant workers from outside the
Chinese capital.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) stays
with Chinese and foreign children at Fangcaodi International School in the
Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day
ahead of the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>
The boarding school is seen as a model of equal and
quality teaching for migrant children.
Hu joined first grade children, who were learning
Chinese idioms such as "When you drink water, think of its source." Satisfied
with their understanding, Hu told them to learn to be grateful for what they
enjoyed and to study hard.
During a handcraft session, the president was shown
works made from recycled materials and paper. He happily joined several students
in finishing a mosaic map of China, using pieces of egg shell.
"This is a good idea to use recycled materials to
make handcrafts. I hope you become more aware of saving natural resources and
environmental protection," Hu told the excited kids.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R) is
present at a class at Fangcaodi International School in the Chaoyang
District of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day ahead of the
International Children's Day. (Xinhua) Photo Gallery>>>
On the school's playground, the president's skill at
kicking shuttlecock, a popular game among Chinese, won him applause.
He stressed children of rural migrant workers in
cities should enjoy same rights to standard education so they can grow up
equally healthy and happy as the children of urban residents.
During a visit to the Fangcaodi Primary School, an
international school, Hu's attention was attracted by a group of first grade
foreign students who were speaking fluent Chinese.
The smiling president listened them saying their
names, ages and their home countries. He also acted as a teacher, discussing the
differences between lemons and oranges.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) visits
Chinese and foreign children at Fangcaodi International School in the
Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day
ahead of the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>
Hu joined the children painting kites and doing makeup of traditional Peking opera. He also taught kids to make dumplings, atypical Chinese food.
Established in 1956, the school has more than 4,000
foreign students from more than 150 countries and regions. Many are children of
foreign diplomats, experts and business people living in Beijing.
Before leaving, Hu told Chinese and foreign students
to help each other and to make progress together for a better world.
Other senior Chinese officials also took part in
activities on Sunday to celebrate Children's Day.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) watches
a performance by pupils at Jushan Primary School in the Haidian District
of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day ahead of the
International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Photo Gallery>>>
Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of
the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, attended an
evening gala in Beijing that featured songs, dance, martial arts and acrobatic
performances by young artists.
Chen Zhili, vice-chairwoman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, was invited to a national singing performance in Beijing.
Almost 1 million children will join activities in the
next four months to sing patriotic songs that will be recorded and broadcast by
China National Radio.
In a separate gathering in Beijing, Chen praised a
charity program to aid girls who had dropped out of school because of poverty.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R Back)
poses for a photo with pupils at Jushan Primary School in the Haidian
District of Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2009, one day ahead of the
International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Photo Gallery>>>
In 1989, the Children's Foundation of China, the All-China Women's Federation, the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Nationalities Affairs Commission, jointly launched the "Spring Bud Program" to pool donations from across the country to help millions of young girls who are forced to drop out of school.
The program has helped an estimated 1.7 million
girls, mainly of primary and junior middle school levels, return to school in
the past two decades.
Chen, who also chairs the
All-China Women's Federation, told the meeting that the program plans to help
poor female students to finish high school, as well as to provide technical
training.
Li Changchun (C), a member of the
Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee meets with children after attending an evening gala in
Beijing that featured songs, dance, martial arts and acrobatic
performances by young artists in Beijing, China, May 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao
Dawei) Photo
Gallery>>>
