The Olympic torch for the Beijing Games has started an international tour after Chinese President Hu Jintao lit a cauldron in the Tiananmen Square in the Chinese capital.

The ceremony kicked off on the square at the heart of Beijing two hours after a specially chartered Air China plane carrying the flame from Greece touched down.

Chinese vice President Xi Jinping addressed the ceremony.

"I wish to start by extending on behalf of the Chinese government and the 1.3 billion Chinese people, a very warm welcome to the arrival of the Olympic flame and extend our sincere thanks to the friends from home and abroad for you interest in and support fro the Beijing Olympic Games."

President Hu Jintao lit a cauldron with the Olympic torch, and passed the torch to Chinese athlete Liu Xiang, world recorder holder of men's hurdles.

President Hu Jintao then declared the official start of the round-the-world relay.

"I now declare the launching of the torch relay of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games."

Also present was International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen. He addressed the ceremony on behalf of IOC president Jacques Rogge.

The torch relay around the world, with the theme of "a harmonious journey," will officially start on Tuesday in Beijing when the flame is scheduled to depart for Almaty, capital of Kazakhstan.