Premier Zhu: State Fully Backs Beijing's Olympic BidThe Chinese government fully supports Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has said May 8.Zhu made the remarks at a meeting with foreign guests, who are for the on-going Third Session of the China (Beijing) International High-tech Industries Week 2000. While fully backing the bidding, the State Council will "create good conditions in all areas for Beijing's bidding," Zhu said. It is the first time that the central authorities have voiced support to Beijing's 2008 Olympic bid. Zhu said that the Chinese government pays great attention to and fully supports the Beijing Municipal Government's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2008, and also helps "create good conditions in all areas for Beijing's bidding." Modern Olympics is a lofty game that promotes mutual understanding among people of different countries, increases friendship and is helpful to maintaining world peace, Zhu said, adding that the Olympic Games is the largest in terms of scale, the highest in terms of sports standard and most influential sports meet in today's world. It is the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people that Beijing applies to host the 2008 Olympics on behalf of China, the premier said, noting that It will lead to the popularization of Olympic spirit in China. Zhu went on that China has witnessed remarkable achievements over the past 20 years through reforms and opening to the outside world, and Beijing has been changing daily in its economic development and urban construction. Over the past few years, Beijing's environmental conditions have also been improved, and the city is making vigorous efforts to realize the goal of cleaner air, more beautiful environment and better biological conditions. "All these have laid a solid foundation for the city's bid to host the Olympic Games," he said. Beijing, the capital city of China, which previously applied to host the 2000 Olympic Games, has again submitted an application to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in early 1999 to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Beijing also established a Bidding Committee for the 2008 Games last September. |
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