Beijing's top leader Liu Qi said he hopes that the 2008 Olympic Games would be prudent and corruption-free, and has called for public support to create "warm, festive atmosphere" in the run-up to the event.

 

The secretary of the Beijing municipal committee of the Communist Party of China said yesterday that it was not easy for China to win the contest to host the Games. And it will be even more difficult for Beijing to make it an exemplary event.

 

Addressing the closing ceremony of the Fifth Session of the 12th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Liu said: "As a developing country, China lacks the experience of organizing major international cultural and sports meets.

 

"We should be calm and composed and devote our energy to develop the hardware and software environment further," he said.

 

With just about 550 days left for the Games, Liu said, Beijing will work harder to improve the areas and services around the competition venues, he said. To achieve a scientific, green and people-centered Games, Beijing will promote technical innovation and expedite the changes needed in its industrial structure.

 

The city will beautify the environment, plant more trees and build an economical and eco-friendly Olympic city with more pollution-control measures.

 

Transport, food and drug safety, saving energy and resources and servicing and managing the floating population are the areas of focus.

 

The success of the Olympics depends on the amount of interest people have in projecting the country to the outside world, he said. Solving public problems and collecting the community's views on how to make the Games a grand success will be the highlights of the preparations.

 

Liu said the city would tighten security for the Olympics by strengthening its supervision and inspection measures. "A high-standard Olympics requires us to improve our city and our image by being more courteous and exhibiting more hygienic habits in a short period of time."

 

The capital has begun five campaigns, including one with a slogan: "I participate, I contribute and I am happy". Liu has urged people, especially representatives to the Games to instil a sense of mission and responsibility among the public.

 

"We are representing the whole nation. Only the active participation of all our people can make this mission possible."

 

(China Daily February 1, 2007)