On the afternoon of May 17, 2006, at the invitation of Romanian Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu and Speaker of the House of Representatives Bogdan Olteanu, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China arrived in Bucharest, capital of Romania, kicking off his three-day official goodwill visit to this country. This is the first visit to Romania by the Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

In May, the trees make a pleasant shade and spring is in the air in Bucharest. At 3:40 pm, local time, Chairman Wu's special plane landed slowly at the Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport. The national flags of the two countries were waving at the airport. Chairman Wu and his wife Zhang Ruizhen walked down the accommodation ladder and shook hands cordially with Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Valer Dorneanu and other Romanian officials who were here to welcome the guests. Both sides extended greetings to each other. A Romanian young woman presented bread and salt to Wu and his wife to extend the warmest welcome to the Chinese guests. The staff of the Chinese Embassy in Romania offered respectfully flowers to Wu and his wife, as well as Vice Chairman Raidi of the NPC Standing Committee.

In his written speech delivered at the airport, Wu said that his official goodwill visit to beautiful Romania will bring profound feelings and best wishes of the Chinese people for the Romanian people. Despite the distance keeping both countries apart, their traditional friendship goes back to ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 57 years ago, the two countries and their people have always shown mutual respect, trust, understanding and support for each other with exchanges and cooperation in all areas continuously expanded.

During his visit to Romania, Wu will hold meetings and talks with Romanian leaders and exchanged in-depth views with them on further developing bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of common interest. He expressed belief that this visit will contribute to deepening understanding and friendship between the two peoples, promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two legislatures and pushing bilateral comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership for greater new development.

Chairman Wu's other companions arrived in the same plane. Chinese Ambassador to Romania Xu Jian, the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Romania and representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, Chinese students studying in Romania and overseas Chinese there also welcomed Wu and his delegation at the airport.

Romania is the first leg of Wu's current tour to four European nations. He will also visit Moldova, Greece and Russia and attend the meeting of parliament speakers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries to be held in Moscow.