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Contact:
George Jude
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Governor-General surrounded by press
security and external affairs personnel on visit to the Great Wall of China |
Monday, September 13, 2004 - Governor-General of St. Lucia, Her
Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy on September 8th, 2004, became the 400th Head
of State to visit the Great Wall of China. Her Excellency is also the fourth
Government of St. Lucia official to visit the Great
Wall, behind Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony and the late former Foreign
Minister, George Odlum in February, 1999; and Foreign Minister Julian Hunte in
July, 2002.
The over-3,000 mile long wall was the greatest manmade military
defence structure in ancient China. Its construction
started during ancient spring and summer period and the warring stated period
770-211 B.C. At that time walls were built by some warring states to protect
their own territories.
In 221 B.C., Qin Shihuang, who became the first Emperor of a unified China,
linked the separate walls. From then, the Great Wall was continuously extended
and repaired by subsequent dynasties. Most of the wall has deteriorated badly,
with the best preserved wall at present being the one built in the Ming Dynasty
between 1368 and 1644. This section of the wall is over 6,000
kilometres long.
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Governor-General signs Visitors' Book at
the Great Wall of China |
At over seven meters high and five meters wide, the Great Wall has drawn much
attention from the Chinese Government since becoming the People’s Republic of
China in 1949. It was designated a major historical site under state protection
in 1961. And in 1987, the Great Wall was listed as a World Cultural Heritage by
the United Nation Economic, Social, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The Great Wall at Badaling is preserved as a historical monument and has become
one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
On the visit to the Great Wall, Her Excellency was accompanied by the Chinese
Ministry of External Affairs, along with several security and medical personnel.
Viewing the Great Wall with awe, the Governor-General wrote in the visitors’
book, “ …inspiring and breathtaking. I will always cherish this visit to the
Great Wall, a symbol of peace, harmony and international goodwill”.
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