Visiting Chairman James Soong of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan and Mrs. Soong were warmly welcomed Monday afternoon at Soong's alma mater in Xiangtan of central-south China's Hunan Province.

Along the Chengzheng Street in front of the Shuguang Primary School, nearly 10,000 local residents lined up to greet Soong, who left the town 56 years ago. On the playground, banners reading "Welcome back, Chairman Soong" and "Your alma mater bless you" and "Please come back to alma mater often" fluttered in the wind.

Recalling his school life there as a second-grader in 1949, Soong said he had received an sound education at the school.

"It was from here that I understood I am not only a Hunanese but also a real Chinese," he said.

After a brief tour to the former private school founded in 1902, Soong excitedly took out a school report card he had long cherished. Four of his classmates were present at the welcoming ceremony.

James Soong made private donations to the school and left an inscription exalting the school's salutary influence in education and children's future. He received an album from the school in return.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2005)