Senior CPC official arrives in Guangxi for 50th anniversary celebrations

Zhou Yongkang(C front), member of the

Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China

(CPC) Central Committee, arrives in Nanning to attend celebrations marking

the 50th founding anniversary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in

Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on

Dec. 10, 2008.(Chinese media/Liu Weibing)
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NANNING, Dec. 10 (Chinese media) -- Communist Party of China (CPC) senior official Zhou Yongkang arrived here on Wednesday to attend celebrations marking the 50th founding anniversary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, arrived at the regional capital Nanning around 4 p.m., leading a delegation from the central government.

Zhou Yongkang(C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, arrives in Nanning to attend celebrations marking the 50th founding anniversary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Dec. 10, 2008.(Chinese media/Liu Weibing)
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They were warmly received at the airport by local officials and people, who cheered and danced in colorful folk costumes.

The region, gateway to southeast Asia, was founded on Dec. 11, 1958. As one of China's five minority autonomous regions, it has 12 ethnic groups, including the dominant Zhuang nationality.

On Wednesday evening, Zhou and the delegation members joined some 1,300 locals from all walks of life to watch a gala show at the People's Hall in Nanning.

The song and dance show highlighted rich cultural heritage of local ethnic groups, as well as beautiful landscape such as green mountains and the Lijiang River in Guilin, which makes Guangxi a world-famous tourist destination.

More activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary are scheduled to be held in Nanning this week.

The delegation also included Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang; Ismail Tiliwaldi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; Du Qinglin and Li Zhaozhuo, vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Li Jinai, director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.