President Xi Jinping has left for his first state visit to the United States. Ever wondered how large the president's entourage is? Who will get aboard the same plane with him? Here are the answers to all your queries.
習近平已經前往美國進行首次國事訪問。習近平的出訪團規模有多大？哪些人將會出現在習近平的專機上？以下將為您解答。

Q1. How many people will be on the presidential plane?
多少人將乘坐習主席的專機？

A1. No more than 100.
不到100人。

Lu Peixin, former acting director of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporter that based on his experience of previous visits the plane carries about 40 to 50 people.
外交部原禮賓司代司長魯培新向媒體透露，根據他以往的出訪經驗，主席專機一般能坐四五十人。

When President Xi visited Russia for the first time in 2013, Xinhua News Agency reported that fewer people from Beijing accompanied Xi than before, which means Xi may reduce his team further.
2013年習近平首次訪問俄羅斯時，據新華社報道，從北京同機出發的陪同人員較前減少。這或許也意味著陪同出訪的人數更為精簡。

Q2. What is the special plane like?
專機長什么樣？

A2. There is no "special plane" for Chinese leaders. The planes are provided by Air China.
中國領導人沒有專屬客機。他們出訪所乘坐的飛機通常由國航提供。

Lu Peixin said that Air China provides double-deck Boeing 747s for Chinese President Xi's state visits, which are also used as passenger planes in ordinary days. Lu said it takes more than a month to select the crew, install facilities and carry out security checks before setting out.
魯培新說，國航提供波音747雙層飛機讓習主席用于國事訪問，平時可恢復為客機。從確定機組成員名單到飛機安檢改裝，大約需要一個多月時間。

A refitted plane consists of four sections. President's cabin is in the front, which comprises a living room, a bedroom and an office, taking one-third space of the plane. The cabin for ministers follows, which "resembles a deluxe cabin in a passenger plane". The most important officials are seated in this cabin. Every seat is equipped with a small desk. The third cabin is for those at departmental level, which "is also spacious and like a first-class cabin". The back of the plane is for others, which is similar to cabins in ordinary passenger planes.
改裝后的專機一般由四部分組成。最前面是首長席，由一個客廳、一個臥室、一個辦公室組成，大概占去整個機艙的三分之一；隨后是部長席，“有些像特等艙”，供主要陪同人員乘坐，每個位置前有小桌子；再后面是司局級官員席位，“也比較寬敞，像一等艙”；最后是隨行的其他人員，座位與民航客機的普通艙一樣。

Q3. Who accompanies President Xi?
誰將陪同習近平出訪？

A3. Mainly four kinds of dignitaries.
主要陪同人員有四類。

1. First Lady Peng Liyuan
第一夫人彭麗媛

Peng has accompanied President Xi in his 10 out of 14 foreign visits since he took office. Lu Peixin said Peng's agenda would be arranged separately by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if she goes with President Xi. Besides, the Protocol Department usually appoints a female division chief, a female interpreter, and usually female security personnel to accompany the first lady.
在習近平主席自就職以來的14次出訪活動中，習近平主席夫人彭麗媛共陪同出訪10次。據魯培新介紹，如果主席夫人陪同出訪，外交部禮賓司將單獨安排夫人的日程。禮賓司一般會給主席夫人配一名女性處長和女翻譯，安全方面，可能也會配備專門的女保鏢。

2. Three deputies at the state level
三位副國級官員

When Chinese president or premier visits other countries, officials above the provincial level also accompany them.
在國家主席、總理出訪時，一般省部級以上官員也將陪同出訪。

Lu said the main team includes the first lady, director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and the State councilor in charge of diplomacy.
據魯培新介紹，主席進行國事訪問的主要陪同人員一般有主席夫人、中央政策研究室主任、中央辦公廳主任和負責外交工作的國務委員。

Wang Huning, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo and director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; Li Zhanshu, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; and Yang Jiechi, the State councilor in charge of diplomacy go with President Xi on his every foreign visit.
中央政治局委員、中央政策研究室主任王滬寧，中央政治局委員、中央書記處書記、中辦主任栗戰書，國務委員、中央外事工作領導小組辦公室主任楊潔篪等三人每次都會隨習主席出訪。

3. Minister-level officials
正部長級官員

Wangyi, minister of Foreign Affairs; Xu Shaoshi, head of the National Development and Reform Commission; Gao Hucheng, the commerce minister are among the regular list of minister-level officials who go with the president.
部長級的陪同人員中，標配一般包括外交部部長王毅、國家發改委主任徐紹史、商務部長高虎城等人。

President Xi will cover multiple topics during his visit, for example, environmental protection and network security. As a result, principals of relevant departments of environment and information security may accompany him.
此次訪美，習主席的會談內容將涉及環保、網絡安全等議題，因此，環境、信息安全相關部門的負責人可能會陪同出訪。

"The list is decided by not only the relation between the two countries, but also the business contacts, as well as the main issues that will be addressed during the visit," Lu said.
魯培新說：“出訪名單主要根據兩國關系，到訪國和中國在業務方面往來的情況，這次訪問要解決的重要問題等而定?！?/p>

4. Other officials
其他官員

Taking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an example, Lu Peixin said the North America and Oceania Department, Protocol Department and Information Department will send officials led by the directors respectively.
就外交部系統而言，北美大洋洲司、禮賓司和新聞司應該都會由司長帶隊，配上相應的處長、工作人員隨行。

Along with them, the officials of departments dealing with the America affairs, for example, North America and Oceania Department of Ministry of Commerce, will be there.
其他部委里，和美國相應的一些業務部門，如商務部的美洲大洋洲司，會有相應的司長處長隨行。

Besides, the secretaries and security personnel of the leaders, as well as a few journalists will be included.
此外還有領導人的生活秘書、警衛人員，以及少量媒體記者等其他隨行人員。

According to Lu, over 20 crew members, including the captain, machinists, aviators, duty operators, attendants, are also in the entourage. Since most of the foreign trips are long-range flight, "the entire flight crew is divided into two groups and on duty alternatively," he said.
此外，專機上的機組人員也有20多人。據魯培新介紹，機組由機長、機械師、領航員、話務員、報務員、乘務員等人組成。由于大多數出訪都是長途飛行，魯培新介紹說，“機組成員分為兩班，一班值勤，另一班則休息?！?/p>

Vocabulary

entourage: 隨行人員
deluxe cabin: 特等艙

英文來源：中國日報網
編輯：丹妮