By Chrispin Inambao WINDHOEK President Hu Jintao, his wife Liu Yongqing and their entourage were greeted by a riveting beat pulsating from three African drums, pounded by three muscular male performers, and troupes of traditional female dancers forming the Namibian welcoming party yesterday. A white Boeing 747-400 emblazoned with the red Chinese flag that transported the visitors touched down at noon. Shortly thereafter, the visiting president and his wife who was attired in a turquoise skirt suit walked out of the plane, their hands firmly clasped together. Their host President Hifikepunye Pohamba gave them a warm welcome before introducing the visitors to Prime Minister Nahas Angula, Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku and the service chiefs who escorted him to the dais. Security was very tight with heavily-armed members of the VIP Protection Unit keeping an eagle scrutiny on proceedings. And in the midst of all this protocol the Sangwali Cultural Group transported from Caprivi sang “Bayeni Dyere”, among other hits composed specifically for such events. The Kalahari Cultural Group, clad in garb fashioned from hides, and the Tobias Hainyeko Cultural Group, ablaze in Odhelela – the pink Oshiwambo dress – also stringed together a highly energetic performance for the visitors, braving an unforgiving African sun. Before the Guard of Honour, there was a brief moment of panic among a section of the multi-racial crowd when one of the three mounted canons unexpectedly unleashed the first in a series of several ceremonial volleys that comprise the stately 21-gun salute. The fifth leg of the African safari, that has culminated in the continent being the recipient of several millions of US dollars in aid, will forever remain etched on the memory of Fan Boya, a twenty-year-old Business Administration student at the University of Namibia. The irony is that although this Chinese diplomat’s daughter has seen President Hu Jintao in countless newspaper and magazine articles, she was yet to see him in person, and to make this more interesting, she only laid her eyes on the President in an African country. And to make this event even more memorable, Fan Boya was among the select few people chosen to present bouquets to the visiting first couple. Dozens of Chinese, among them expatriate staff and business people, welcomed the President who is accompanied by State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, that country’s Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the Minister of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Ma Kai and the Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and other senior officials. In a translated message availed to the media, the visiting Head of State said, “I am glad to pay a State visit to the beautiful country of the Republic of Namibia at the invitation of President Hifikepunye Pohamba. “I wish to take this opportunity to convey to the Namibian people the warm greetings and best wishes of the Chinese people.” He said since the beginning of Namibia’s independence struggle, the Chinese and Namibian people have symphasised and supported each other, forging a profound friendship and that the two country’s fruitful diplomatic ties have been growing steadily. Jintao said cooperation between Namibia and China has been growing steadfastly in the fields of politics, economics, education, public health and culture among other fields. “I hope that my visit will enhance mutual understanding and trust, strengthen the bond of traditional friendship and advance the friendly relations and cooperation between Namibia and China,” said President Jintao. Jintao’s delegation is 130-strong and today they are expected to proceed to South Africa and then to Mozambique before winding its eight-nation tour in the Seychelles.