The Beijing Paralympic Games will come to the end tonight. At noon September 17, Chinese President Hu Jintao held a luncheon in Fangfeiyuan, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on behalf of the Chinese government and people to warmly welcome the international dignitaries who would attend the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games. He stressed that as a big sports event for all the disabled friends worldwide the Paralympic Games is also a grand cultural activity which well demonstrates humanity's pursuit of transcendence, participation and joy. The concept of "beyond, integration, sharing” of the Beijing Paralympic Games represents the beautiful wishes of people all over the world and will leave valuable legacy to the promotion of well-being of the disabled.

Vice Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hu’s wife Liu Yongqing and international dignitaries including President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge and President of the International Paralympic Committee Philip Craven attended the banquet.

Flowers blossomed and melodious music sounded inside Fangfeiyuan where the glorious yellow palace lanterns and the “Sky, Earth and Human Beings” emblem of the Beijing Paralympic Games on the curtain added radiance to each other. At 11:45 a.m. Hu and his wife Liu Yongqing as well as Xi Jinping received the international guests at the gate of Fangfeiyuan, shaking hands with and extending greetings to them.

The luncheon started amid happy music at 11:50 a.m. and Hu proposed a toast.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Hu expressed warm welcome to the guests who would attend the Beijing Paralympic Games closing ceremony, sincere gratitude to those who had contributed to the success of the Games and heartfelt congratulations to the Paralympians from across the globe on their excellent performances during the Games.

He said that the Paralympians had demonstrated perseverance, optimism and an enterprising spirit and written a glorious ode to life through active participation in the various events of the Games over the past 12 days. The Chinese people had kept their solemn commitment to the international community, greeted guests from all over the world with great hospitality and delivered a high-standard Paralympic Games with distinctive features. The Chinese people and people of the rest of the world have shared the success and happiness of the Games.

Building on the success of the Beijing Paralympic Games, the Chinese government and people will carry forward the humanitarian spirit and promote the well-being of the disabled in China comprehensively. We will work with the governments and people of other countries to advance the development of sports and the overall well-being of people with disabilities worldwide.

The Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have promoted the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace, presented a harmonious picture of exchanges and cooperation among people all over the world and enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between the people in China and the rest of the world. China will unswervingly pursue reform and opening-up, resolutely follow the road of peaceful development, firmly implement the mutually beneficial and win-win opening strategy and join hands with all the other countries in the world to build an even better future.

The foreign heads of state and government, members of royal families, representatives of international organizations and their spouses who would attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games participated in the luncheon.

Also present at the banquet were related officials of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government.