Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping congratulated Chinese climbers for successfully carrying the Olympic torch to the peak of Mount Qomolangma on Thursday morning.

"This is one of the greatest events in the history of Olympic Games and a precious gift given by the Chinese to the Olympics and people worldwide," Xi said in a telegraph to climbers.

On behalf of the central government and the Central Committee of Communist Party of China, he congratulated and greeted all the people working for the torch relay on Mount Qomolangma and the International Olympic Committee and all foreign friends who supported the torch relay.

The Olympic flame reached the peak of the world's highest mountain, with an altitude of 8844.43 meters, at 9:17 a.m. Thursday.

The climbers had prepared well, worked hard and tested themselves to the limit to fulfill this task, he said. "They embodied the Olympic motto of 'swifter, higher and stronger' and the spirit of 'peace, friendship and progress'."

With 92 days to go to the Beijing Games, he hoped all the Olympic workers would be inspired by the climbers to work harder for a unique and quality Games.

The Beijing Organizing Committee of the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) also sent a congratulatory letter to the climbers after the flame reached the summit.

"You have sent the Olympic flame to the peak of the world's highest mountain, and unfurled the Olympic and Chinese national flags on the world's summit. You brought the Olympic spirit to a new altitude, won the country honor and added glory to the Olympiad," the letter said.

With the efforts of the climbers, Beijing fulfilled its promise made when applying to host the Games, it said.

The successful ascent would greatly encourage the BOCOG to work for a unique and good Games, the letter said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)