BEIJING, Aug. 17 -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair presented her newly-written biography at Shanghai Book Fair Sunday, attracting thousands of Chinese readers.

    At 1:30 pm, wearing a Chinese-Western style suit and subtle make-up, Cherie showed up at a signature ceremony at Shanghai Book Fair.

    She said she was proud that the Chinese version of the book "Speaking for Myself" was published and hoped Chinese readers like it.

    Soundbite: Cherie Blair “I am so delighted to be here to Shanghai Book Fair. I had to say that how thrilled I am that Chinese people (are) so kind to see me and to read my book.”

    Huang Yaping arrived at the site three hours in advance and became the first to get Cherie’s signature.

    Soundbite: Huang Yaping, reader “I think it’s her personal charm that attracts me, though she was not the Prime Minister, but his wife.”

    Sharing the same age and reflecting the mid-age life made lots of Chinese women gather at the book fair to meet Cherie.

    Fang Hua, over 50, got a chance to meet the “Great woman in her heart” after waiting for three hours.

    Soundbite: Fang Hua, reader “I've always thought of meeting her in person. She is a great woman in my heart. This is the only reason I came here. She was not born rich but became the wife of Prime Minister. That is amazing.”

    Cherie wrote a two-page preface in Chinese where she reminisced the bond between China and Britain. She thought Shanghai and her hometown Liverpool are both big ports in the world. She also mentioned the return of Hong Kong and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shanghai.