NEW YORK - A 30-second video welcoming Vice-President Xi Jinping was shown on the giant LED screen overlooking New York's Times Square on Tuesday, the day he met with US President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.

The video, Sino-American Friendship, a Witness to History, produced by the Sino-American Friendship Association, was shown every five minutes from 7 am Tuesday to 1 am Wednesday, showcasing historic moments in Xi's experiences with the US, beginning with his visit to Iowa in 1985. In 2009, he welcomed Obama to Beijing, followed by a meeting with Biden at Qingchengshan Senior High School in China's Dujiangyan city in 2011.

"Although New York City is not on Vice-President Xi's agenda, we believe it's important to deliver a warm welcome to him," said Peter Zhang, president of the Sino-American Friendship Association, an independent, nonprofit educational organization that aims to develop and strengthen understanding between China and the US.

"This is the first time we will display such a video to welcome a Chinese leader at the center of New York. Times Square has long been attracting tourists from around the world, so we believe it is a great opportunity to play the clip here, bring him closer to the American people, and to let them learn more about this Chinese leader."

Rachel Cashon, a tourist from Florida, saw the video clip. "It was nice to be informed about the Chinese leader," Cashon said.

A promotional video on China was shown in Times Square before President Hu Jintao's visit to the US in January 2011. The 60-second video - featuring basketball superstar Yao Ming and astronaut Yang Liwei, among other celebrities - was shown 300 times daily for a month.

An estimated 1.7 million people pass through the landmark every day.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/16/2012 page2)