China honors Pakistan by having the Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari stand next to Premier Wen Jiabao and the President of the Asian Games Federation in the main gallery at the opening ceremony of Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 today.

The ceremony was a stunner, living up to the high standards of organizing international events that China has become synonymous with.

Coming one month after Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, which was by some estimates one of the most expensive international sporting events in recent memory, today’s show in Guangzhou can be a silent embarrassment for India. In the run-up to the Delhi games, Indian officials made it a point to make comparisons to China, promising to put on a show that rivaled its larger northern neighbor.