Bush to open new U.S. embassy in China

BEIJING, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will combine his China visit for the Olympic Games opening ceremonies Friday with inaugurating the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

"This is a moment I have long waited for. After more than 15 years of discussions and four and a half years of construction, our magnificent embassy will be officially dedicated by the president," U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt told reporters in Beijing, Xinhua news agency reported.

The new $434 million embassy built on a 10-acre property in the new diplomatic zone in northeast Beijing will have a total area of nearly 500,000 square feet. It will be the United States' second largest embassy after the one in Baghdad, the report said.

Randt was quoted as saying the new complex will provide the U.S. government "with a platform appropriate for the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century, the U.S.-China relationship."

The entire complex has been designed to withstand car bomb or other types of terrorist attacks. It will house a staff of about 1,100 from 26 U.S. agencies, the report said.