China hoped all athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games would contribute to enhancing international friendship, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Tuesday.

He made the remark when responding to a report that U.S. President George W. Bush had urged American athletes to be "ambassadors of liberty" to the people of China.

Liu said China had taken note of the report.

He hoped that athletes from the United States and other countries would advocate friendship and the Olympic spirit during their stay in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2008)