ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping does not like yellow flowers and feels uncomfortable in temperature over 24 degrees Celsius.

Officials on protocol duty were under instructions to avoid yellow flowers in floral arrangements on the routes of the visiting leader and the venues of his various meetings here on Monday.

It was one of the main points of the protocol jointly set by experts of both countries for the visit.

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“According to Chinese traditions, yellow flower is a symbol of ‘hate’, therefore, the hosts were informed by the Chinese protocol team that yellow flowers should be avoided in the floral arrangements and on the routes,” an official told Dawn.

One of the significant features of the protocol was to ensure that the room temperature in all meeting halls and buildings was kept at 24 degrees.

It was also decided by the protocol teams that wherever the flags of the two countries would be shown, the Chinese flag would be on the right.

Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned a joint sitting of parliament which will be addressed by the Chinese president on Tuesday. The parliamentarians have been asked to reach the Parliament House by 8am, while the session will begin at 9.30am.

The Chinese leader will be received at the Parliament House by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

President Xi will lay the foundation stone of a 1.2 megawatts solar energy project being installed to provide electricity to the parliament building.

The project will be completed with Chinese assistance by September.

The Chinese president will meet the leaders of the two houses and the opposition.

The National Assembly speaker will deliver a welcome address and express gratitude to the Chinese president for visiting the Parliament House.

This will be followed by President Xi’s address to the joint session. An address to parliamentarians has been a feature of all visits to the country by Chinese presidents and prime ministers and it will be the fourth such event.

However, Mr Xi will be the first Chinese president to address a joint sitting of parliament.

President Hussain will host a lunch in honour of the Chinese leader at the presidency and confer on him the Nishan-i-Pakistan at a ceremony.

On completion of his two-day visit President Xi will leave Islamabad for Indonesia.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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