Turkmen relations get horsepower(2)

China's female honor guards debut at the welcoming ceremony for Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 12, 2014. A total of 13 female guards made the first public appearance at Monday's ceremony. [Photo/81.cn]

Protocol reforms for greeting foreign leaders since the new leadership took office

1. Female honor guards

A guard of honor including women made its debut on Monday as President Xi Jinping hosted a welcoming ceremony for Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Members were recruited in February by the Beijing Military Area Command. Some 90 percent of them have been educated to junior college degree level or above and their average height is 1.72 meters. According to military officials, female guards of honor should be about the same height and must undergo rigid training.

2. Marching band

A military band to greet visiting heads of state in Beijing is one of the fixtures at any welcoming ceremony, and bands are usually stationed in a prearranged position. But on Monday, the welcoming ceremony included a marching band of 43 musicians. The band changed formation as it marched and played the patriotic song Ode to the Motherland.

3. Trumpeters

Introduced last year, three trumpeters play several sharp bursts of music as visiting guests move from their vehicle to the welcoming ceremony. The guests are then formally greeted as they step onto the red carpet.

4. Young people

Students from elementary schools in Beijing have been adding a touch of color to welcoming ceremonies since they were reintroduced last year. The students are a major attraction as they stand in line along the red carpet in front of the Great Hall of the People to welcome guests.