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| President Anthony Carmona welcomes President Xi to T&T |
The article quoted former senior diplomat Reginald Dumas pointing to what he called several protocol breaches. And the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) also claimed that there were breaches.
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| Side by side - President Carmona, President Xi and PM Persad-Bissessar |
However Ambassador Huang Xingyuan strongly disagreed with those views. He spoke with the paper and explained that President Xi Jingping was very pleased with the professionalism shown during his visit last week and "deeply appreciates the warmth and hospitality of the Government and people" of Trinidad and Tobago.
Huang said Xi himself has sent letters of appreciation to President Carmona and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressing his appreciation and gratitude.
"Although the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a small country with a small population, its protocol is very professional and at top level in the world,” Huang said in the Express article.
He added that the leaders and the entire delegation "were deeply impressed by the kindness, hospitality, friendship and enthusiasm of the Government and people of this country".
The diplomat said his President asked him to convey special thanks to the president, prime minister and the people of this country.
“President Xi praised that his successful visit to Trinidad and Tobago should be attributed to considerable detailed and thoughtful arrangements made by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and relevant departments,” Huang said.
One issue raised by Dumas in his criticism of the protocol was that President Xi arrived in the rain and that the president was holding his own umbrella. And the opposition charged that photos showed the Trinidad and Tobago president standing behind the prime minister.
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| Rainy arrival |
Huang said the rain caused some disorder but added that he himself as well as the chief protocol officer both wanted to have the honour of holding the umbrella but President Xi refused.
“It was our President’s desire to hold the umbrella himself, no matter where, in his domestic visits (in China) or during his visits to foreign countries, it is his Excellency’s desire to hold an umbrella for himself,” the diplomat said.
Huang explained that such a simple thing as holding his own umbrella to shelter himself and his wife is a matter of deep admiration in China.
The ambassador said "according to international custom", the Chinese President and his wife must be the first to appear from the aircraft therefore no third party could have ascended the aircraft and sheltered them with an umbrella as they came off the plane.
“It was our President’s desire to hold the umbrella himself, no matter where, in his domestic visits (in China) or during his visits to foreign countries, it is his Excellency’s desire to hold an umbrella for himself,” the diplomat said.
Huang explained that such a simple thing as holding his own umbrella to shelter himself and his wife is a matter of deep admiration in China.
The ambassador said "according to international custom", the Chinese President and his wife must be the first to appear from the aircraft therefore no third party could have ascended the aircraft and sheltered them with an umbrella as they came off the plane.
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| President Xi shelters his wife - a common tradition for the Chinese leader |
“I feel deeply impressed because your country has hosted two very large delegations in just one short week,” Huang told the paper.
“In one word, our President his Excellency Xi Jinping and her Excellency are very fond of your country as well as your people and I do hope that we can keep this wonderful impression forever,” Huang added.
“In one word, our President his Excellency Xi Jinping and her Excellency are very fond of your country as well as your people and I do hope that we can keep this wonderful impression forever,” Huang added.
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