On August 7, 2008, Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi and Congress Party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi left New Delhi for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan went to the airport to see off Mme. Gandhi and her entourage.

Mme. Gandhi told the Chinese ambassador that she was very delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to cheer for the Indian Olympic contingent and also wished a successful Olympic Games. Ambassador Zhang Yan said the Indian athletes in Beijing would surely be encouraged by the presence of Mme. Gandhi. He also expressed the confidence that the Indian athletes would bring home surprises for the Indian people.