A Madrid city council's delegation is visiting China from Wednesday to Sunday to participate in the World Trade Fair in the Chinese capital and promote Madrid's bid for hosting the 2012 Olympic Games.

Madrid 2012 consultant Antonio Perez de Guzman is with the delegation here to establish contacts with the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee and to intensify international relations to promote the Spanish capital's bid.

Starting Thursday, Madrid will have its own stand in the World Trade Fair.

According to a Madrid 2012 press release, Madrid 2012 and the renowned soccer club Real Madrid "will play a very important role" in the stand.

On January 23, part of China's famed Great Wall will be decorated with flags and promotional posters of Madrid 2012.

Back in Spain, Madrid has added 300 new hotel rooms for its bid. 

The five-star Silken Puerto de America Hotel, which opens in May, is located in the Avenida de America of Madrid at the entrance of the highway to Barcelona a few minutes from the Olympic ring. It will house members of the national Olympic committees if Madrid wins the bid.

Eleven hotels with 919 rooms opened last year. By 2012, Madridwill have about 50,000 hotel rooms, ensuring "an adequate answer to the necessities demanded by the International Olympic Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games," said Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2005)