Chinese President Hu Jintao visited centenarian Lei Jieqiong Tuesday afternoon in Beijing, expressing sincere greetings and best wishes to her on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Lei, honorary chairwoman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD) and a distinguished professor and sociologist, hosted Hu and his company including Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, at her home.

Hu said to Lei that she is a respectable senior leader of the country and non-Communist party, a sincere friend of the CPC and a world-renowned scholar. The 100 years Lei has gone through is the century that the Chinese nation has seen drastic changes.

He said Lei has made great contributions to the revolution and peace causes of China, and done great work in promoting socialist democratic politics and peaceful reunification of the country. She has also achieved remarkable progress in sociology.

In his visit, Hu gave Lei a basket of flowers to congratulate her 100th birthday, and Lei gave him an album of her biography.

Born in 1905 in Guangzhou of south China's Guangdong Province, Lei was a founding member of the CAPD that was formed in Shanghai in 1945. She has served as vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC National Committee, and chairwoman of the CAPD.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2005)