On the night of October 22, 2002, President Jiang Zemin met with George H. Ryan, Governor of the State of Illinois, at the hotel he stayed at.

Ryan extended, on behalf of the people of Illinois, a warm welcome to Jiang for his visit.

Jiang said that he is very pleased to come to Chicago to start his visit to the United States. Illinois boasts convenient transportation and developed economy, and is one of the most agriculturally developed regions in the world. Chicago is an important financial, trade, industrial and cultural center of the United States. The Chinese government always encourages all its regions and departments to develop economic and technological exchanges and cooperation with Illinois and Chicago, which has achieved remarkable results. He hopes that the two sides will step up their efforts to bring friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation to a new level.

Jiang said that the present China-US ties have maintained a good momentum. Although there exist differences, both sides share extensive and important common interests. Cooperation in the anti-terrorism fight and economic and trade sectors have not only yielded huge practical benefits, but also been conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

Jiang said that he will meet US President George W. Bush a few days later for the third time and expected to have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and on major international and regional issues. Jiang said he believed that with joint efforts from the two sides, the meeting will achieve positive results and further promote the constructive and cooperative relations between China and the United States.

Afterwards, Jiang and his wife Wang Yeping attended a grand banquet given in his honor by Governor Ryan, the Chicago municipal government and the Foreign Relations Committee.

In his welcoming speech, Ryan said that Illinois is greatly honor to receive Jiang. The Chinese people maintained their historical and cultural traditions in recent years, while achieving innovation, economic progress and social stability. Illinois has undertaken fruitful cooperation in many fields with China, which has become the state's seventh biggest export market. He added he is willing to work with Chinese friends to expand bilateral friendly cooperation for a better future.

Jiang spoke highly of the rapidly expanding exchanges and cooperation between Illinois and Chicage on the one hand and China's various regions and departments on the other hand. He pointed out that with China's accession to the WTO and entering into a new stage of opening up, the cooperation between China and Illinois and Chicago enjoys broad prospects.

Jiang said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the Shanghai Communique. Reviewing the past, we deeply feel that China and the United States, two great countries, should increase mutual understanding and trust, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation. He finally expressed the belief that the visit will serve to push forward China-US constructive and cooperative ties.

400 personages from all walks of life in Illinois and Chicago attended the banquet.