BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Saturday morning with a U.S. government delegation to the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, headed by Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

　　    Wen expressed his welcome to the delegation's visit, saying it has shown the importance attached by the United States as the U.S. President George W. Bush and his family attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and the U.S. government also sent officials to attend the closing ceremony.

　　    "It is also an embodiment of China-U.S. friendly cooperation," he added.

　　    He congratulated the U.S. athletes' good performance at the Olympic Games, saying the total number of U.S. delegation's medals is till ranked in the first place.

　　    Chao conveyed Bush's greetings to Wen, and expressed sympathy to the victims and families in the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan Province, saying "our heart is still with them,"