Soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army stand in a line outside the Great Hall of the People during a welcoming ceremony for French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin September 24. Jospin, accompanied by Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and around 50 top business leaders, arrived in China for a three-day visit aimed at boosting commercial ties and winning lucrative contracts for French companies.

ASW/TAN/JDP