'Hometown diplomacy' between Chinese and foreign leaders

Then President Jiang Zemin meets Jacques Chirac, former president of France in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, November 2000. [Photo/Xinhua]

Hometown: Yangzhou, Jiangsu province

Foreign leader invited:

Jacques Chirac, former President of France

In November 2000 Jiang invited Chirac to Yangzhou in East China's Jiangsu province.

It wasn't normal for a foreign president to visit Chinese leader's hometown 15 year ago. Chirac's trip improved relations between China and France.

Chirac said he liked ancient Chinese poet Li Bai's poem "My friend has left the west where towers Yellow Crane. For River Town while willow done and flowers reign", which mentioned the beauty of Yangzhou.

Chirac not only visited the Slender West Lake, the museum of Yangzhou and the Han Dynasty tomb, but also the Grand Canal in Yangzhou.

Chirac said it was his best evening after he took office as president of France.