The flame of the Beijing Olympic Games which has burnt for 16 days will be extinguished on the evening of August 24, 2008, marking the closing of the world-acclaimed Beijing Olympic Games. At noon August 24, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, President Hu Jintao held a grand banquet in Fangfeiyuan, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to warmly welcome the international dignitaries who would attend the closing ceremony of the Games. Hu stressed that the success of the Beijing Olympic Games is attributable to the concerted efforts of the Chinese people and people from the rest of the world and the glory goes to the International Olympic Family, to athletes who have competed hard, to volunteers from different parts of the world and to friends from across the globe who have been involved in the Beijing Olympic Games in various ways.

Vice Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Hu's wife Liu Yongqing, International Olympic Committee's President Jacques Rogge and Honorary President Juan Antonio Samaranch and other dignitaries from more than 20 countries and regions attended the banquet.

Fangfeiyuan is decorated with lanterns and colored hangings. The red palace lanterns and the Beijing Olympic logo added radiance and beauty to each other, creating an atmosphere of happiness and joy. At 12:00 p.m. Hu Jintao, Liu Yongqing and Xi Jinping greeted the distinguished guests from worldwide for the Beijing Olympic Games closing ceremony, shaking hands with them.

The banquet started amid the melody of welcoming the guests at 12:30 p.m. Hu proposed a toast.

He said that we had enjoyed a wonderful and exciting time together since August 8 and the Beijing Olympic Games would come to a successful conclusion tonight. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he extended warm welcome to all the distinguished guests who have come to Beijing for the closing ceremony, expressed sincere gratitude to the IOC and the International Olympic Family for their support and assistance and heartfelt congratulations to the athletes from various countries and regions on their outstanding performances during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Our friends from all over the world have come together in Beijing to experience the charm of the International Olympic Movement since the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games, noted Hu. The athletes from various countries and regions, bearing in mind the motto of "Citius- Altius - Fortius," have fought hard, competed fairly and dared to challenge themselves, displaying strong competitiveness and sportsmanship. The Chinese people have greeted all the guests with great enthusiasm and shared with people from across the world the joy and happiness. The Beijing Olympic Games has promoted the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace. It has become a grand event of international sports competition and cultural exchanges witnessed and joined by people of the whole world.

He stressed that the hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games would promote the further development of sports in China, boost extensive exchanges and cooperation between China and the International Olympic Family and strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people of all other countries.

The Beijing Paralympic Games will open in a few days, said Hu. With the goal of hosting "two games, equal splendor," we will hold a high-standard Paralympic Games with distinctive features and continue to contribute to the development of the International Olympic Movement.

He expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of people all over the world the Olympic spirit would be carried forward and mankind would enjoy an even better future.

Hu lastly told the guests that we all look forward to the reunion in London in four years.

Among the guests were the heads of state and government, representatives of royal families and related foreign countries, delegates of international organizations and their spouses who would attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Related leaders of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government were also present at the banquet.