St.Petersburg: On a "white" night washed by unseasonal rains, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee joined other world's powerful leaders on the deck of a ship in celebrating the tercentenary of the former Russian imperial city seizing the opportunity to discuss global issues in the aftermath of Iraq crisis.

The showers, however, did not dampen the festivities as over 43 leaders, including US President George W Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met in an informal ambience on the fourth deck of the ship on the banks of the River Neva.

St Petersburg is the world's only metropolis where the phenomenon of "White Night takes place every summer when bright sunshine floods the city even at midnight, drawing thousands of people to the downtown part of it.

The ten-decked ship also provided the venue for Vajpayee's meeting with his host Putin and Chirac. The dinner was followed by a high tea on the fifth deck of the ship that was commissioned just about two years ago.

Shortly after his arrival, Vajpayee went to the Monument of Peter I, the Czar who founded the city in 1703, where there was a 'handshake' with President Putin who gave a formal welcome to him.

During his stay, Vajpayee will participate in some of the functions connected with the celebrations.

On May 31, in the midst of a hectic schedule of bilateral meetings with leaders including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Vajpayee will participate in the inaugural ceremony of the festivities on the embankment of Neva amidst a tight security blanket around the city.

PTI