( Itar-Tass ) - Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived on his first-ever visit to Tatarstan. Kazan International Airport was decorated with the flags of the People' s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, and a guard of honor waited for the Chinese delegation on the tarmac.
Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiyev and government members welcomed Hu and the accompanying officials.
The Chinese delegation was taken to a countryside residence from the airport. Kazan streets were decorated with greetings in Russian and Tatar and billboards depicting the Russian Bear and the Chinese Panda walking hand in hand.
On Wednesday Hu will visit an economic exhibition at the international equestrian center, Kazan State University, the Kazan Helicopter Plant and the Kazan Kremlin, which is a UNESCO architectural monument, and have negotiations with Shaimiyev.