The "New Beijing, Great Olympics" photo exhibition opened in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday featuring photographs of Beijing's preparation for the upcoming Olympics, its historical beauty and Ethiopian Olympic heroes.

The exhibition, sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ethiopian Olympic Committee, will last seven days.

Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia Gu Xiaojie said 2008 is a special year for China and for the whole world.

Gu said that China has made preparations for stadiums, environmental protection and traffic equipment and will host a high-level Olympic Games under the main concept of "Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's Olympics."

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Gu expressed appreciation for Ethiopia's support for the Beijing Olympics and hoped that the Ethiopian athletes will do well in the sporting event.

Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis and about 300 officials, ambassadors and guests attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2008)