Han Wei, an archaeologist from northwest China's Shaanxi Province, received a card of greetings from French President Jacques Chirac on the eve of traditional Chinese lunar New Year which fell on January 29.

"Thank you and wish you all the best in the New Year," said Chirac in the card attached his own signature, featuring a Buddha on the front.

Han, who used to be head of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and is now retired, said he got to know Chirac in 1992 when he accompanied Chirac as a guide on the visit to the famous terracotta warriors and horses of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.- 206 B.C.) in the Shannxi museum of history in Xi'an.

In 1998, Chirac received him at the presidential reception room in Paris. Han was bestowed the honor of chevalier of the French Legion of Honour in April 1999.

"I find that Mr. Chirac is indeed a very considerate person through our repeated contacts," said Han, who added he and the French president often exchanged greeting cards on Christmas or New Year's Day.

Source: Xinhua