Top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Friday visited 18 Olympic venues across the capital, calling for national coherence in the Games' preparation.

"Hosting the Games is a shared wish of the Chinese people at home and abroad. We should embrace it with full spirit," said Jia, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He said the concept of a green, technological and humanistic Olympics should be fully carried out and the environment of the surroundings of the venues should be further improved.

"Services at Olympic venues should be well organized and both the software and hardware of the facilities should be monitored around-the-clock to ensure smooth operation."

Jia extended his gratitude to volunteers at the venues. "Hosting the Games is a test to people's quality and social atmosphere. Activities promoting etiquette, politeness and proper ways of watching events should be extensively held."

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2008)