LOOKING tanned and relaxed from his sojourn at the beach resort of Beidaihe, Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng stepped into the public spotlight again yesterday formally welcoming his Thai counterpart Chuan Leekpai to Beijing.
Mr Li declared himself to be in ''very good'' health and strongly hinted that he was ready for a full resumption of his duties.
''I am working already. Look at this today,'' Mr Li said before his meeting with Mr Chuan at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wu Jianmin, said at press conference later that the premier had ''made an excellent recovery'' and would be holding talks with Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao when he arrived in Beijing in early September.
Mr Wu also said the premier had ''accepted with pleasure'' an invitation to visit Thailand at his convenience.
Prior to the talks at Diaoyutai's Villa No 17, Mr Li had presided over the formal welcoming ceremony for Mr Chuan at the Great Hall of the People.
The two men stood side by side on a podium beneath the main eastern entrance to the hall while a military band played the two national anthems amid a 19-gun salute.