Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana said in Beijing Friday that he believed the 2008 Olympic Games to be staged in Beijing will be a "success".

Ravalomanana, who is on a seven-day state visit to China from May 12-18, made the remarks during his visit to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG).

Ravalomanana said Beijing's successful Olympic bid in 2001 was not only a triumph for China, but for all developing countries as well.

The Chinese capital was awarded the 2008 Olympics in Moscow on July 13, 2001 after beating out other four candidate cities including Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka.

Ravalomanana said he would help promote the 2008 Olympics in Africa, letting more African people know about the sporting extravaganza.

BOCOG executive vice president Liu Jingmin gave Ravalomanana a brief introduction about the progress of Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Games.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2004)