Liu Qi, chairman of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bidding Committee and mayor of Beijing, lately reiterates the importance of high-standard high-quality preparatory work for Beijing's bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games.

He said that the Committee should bring its initiative and creative power into full play in doing greater publicity work to let more people know Beijing and China and the reasons and process of Beijing's Olympic games bidding, thereby giving their support to Beijing's 2008 Olympic Games bidding.

Beijing enjoys many favorable factors; it is highly competitive in its bidding. First of all, it has the full support of the Chinese Government and countrywide support of the Chinese people. Second, after 20 years' opening and reform, China has greatly developed and a great rise in its comprehensive national strength and international standing. With good social stability and a fast economy being developed it is favored by a fine situation in its bidding for the Olympic Gams in 2008. Third, the Chinese people have a long tradition of loving sports; nationwide sports activities are being carried out among the Chinese people. Chinese athletes have also excelled in many international games, showing the great strength and impacts of sports in China. Fourth, Beijing is an old cultural city of world renown with a history of over 3,000 years and a founding history of 800 years as a capital city of the Chinese nation. A modern metropolis, with about 100 higher educational institutions launched, the city has been put in a good stead with great capacity and vast potential for hi-tech development. Meanwhile, first-rate social security work will guarantee Beijing's full security for playing host to various large-scale international sports games. Among the various advantages there is also a great development of infrastructure construction and a great improvement of environment quality that have taken place in Beijing.