Liu told the ninth China-France Economic Forum that Beijing had promised to host an excellent Olympics featuring a "green Olympics", a "people's Olympics" and a "high-tech Olympics", with the purpose of boosting economic growth and social progress in the city.

Liu said important projects would be launched in the construction of Olympic stadiums and gymnasiums, transport, communications, environment, high and new technology, and the cultural industries.

"Foreign enterprises, including French ones, are welcomed to participate in the construction, so as to gather the world's foremost experience and technology, and to speed up the growth of Beijing as an international metropolis," he said.

Liu hoped international enterprises would cooperate with Chinese counterparts in a mutually beneficial way to complement each other in new and high-tech industries and manufacturing.

Marketing of the 2008 Olympics will begin in May. Within the year, the Olympic logo will be unveiled, the first Olympic Cultural Festival will be held, and the construction of four stadiums, including the major Olympic stadium, and other projects will begin.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2003)