Beijing should make good preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in 2008, said Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday.

 

Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a panel discussion of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

 

Efforts should be made to build Beijing into an international metropolis that boasts a beautiful environment, the tradition as an ancient capital and favorable living conditions for residents, Jia told the group of national lawmakers from Beijing.

 

Jia also said Beijing should strive for coordinate development between population, resources, and environment, and lead the country in the building of a resource-saving and environment- friendly society.

 

Beijing has taken a series of measures to polish its image for the Olympic Games in 2008, including the "Defending Blue Sky" program targeted at pollution reduction and environmental improvement, and an etiquette education campaign among its residents to trim their behavior.

 

The NPC annual session started Monday morning in Beijing, two days after the opening of the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee, the country's top political advisory body. The two sessions are the most annual political events in China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2007)