The Foreign Ministry has reiterated China's opposition to any politicization of the Olympics, or interference into its internal affairs using the Games as an excuse. Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said it's up to each country's Olympic Committee to decide which of its leaders and officials will attend which events at the Games, and China will respect their decisions.

Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said it's up to each country's Olympic Committee to decide which of its leaders and officials will attend which events at the Games, and China will respect their decisions.

Liu Jianchao said "According to the usual practices of the IOC and the Olympics, state leaders and government officials from other countries can attend the activities of the Olympics Games as enrolled guests at the invitation of their own country's Olympic Committee. China respects the decisions of the other Olympic Committees, and will provide every convenience for foreign leaders who come to attend the Games."

(CCTV July 4, 2008)