Hu emphasized that since Beijing succeeded in its bid to host the Olympic Games on July 13, 2001, the Chinese government and people have earnestly lived up to the commitment to the international community by carrying out close cooperation with the International Olympic Committee(IOC) and the international Olympic family. Hu said China has earnestly carried out all sorts of preparations and laid a solid foundation for hosting an Olympic Games with distinctive characteristics and high standards.

Noting that the 29th summer Olympic Games will open in Beijing in seven days, Hu said people from all countries in the world are earnestly looking forward to this moment. He said staging the Olympic Games in a country with one-fifth of the global population can be seen as both the confidence that the world has in China and the contribution that China makes to the world.

The Beijing Olympic Games belongs to the Chinese people and to the people of all countries in the world, Hu said.

Hu expressed his welcome on behalf of the Chinese government and people to friends from all over the world to come to participate in and witness the Beijing Olympic Games, and to friends from the media of all over the world to come to cover the Games.

President vows to ease reporting after Olympics

President Hu Jintao pledged that China will continue to facilitate foreign reporters' work after the Games.

"China has always opened its door to the outside world," Hu said in response to a question regarding China's post-Olympics policy towards foreign journalists.

"Whether before the Beijing Olympics or after the Games, we will, as always, welcome foreign journalists and facilitate their reporting," Hu said.

Hu said he hoped foreign journalists would abide by Chinese laws and report China as it is, to enhance communication and understanding between China and the world.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)