Liu Qi addresses the meeting.

Chen Zhili speaks.

   (BEIJING, March 25) -- A three-year campaign to promote civility was officially launched in China's capital today with an aim at creating a more favorable social environment for the 2008 Olympic Games.

   In his key-note speech, President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) Liu Qi said the society need to be aware of the importance of civility to the Olympic Games which is a historic event for China.

   "We need to advocate and erect the socialist concept of honor and disgrace and strive to cultivate civilized and healthy social ethics, with an aim to build up a society where civility and harmony are stressed," he told a gathering of over 700 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Liu is a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and party leader of Beijing.

   The concept of honor and disgrace, first put forward by Chinese President Hu Jintao, emphasizes the value of patriotism, hard work and plain living, belief in science, consciousness of serving the people, solidarity, honesty and credibility, and observation of the law. It is considered a perfect amalgamation of traditional Chinese values and modern virtues.

   At the meeting, State Councilor and first Vice President of BOCOG Chen Zhili urged an active approach to carry out the promotion campaign, construct a public order featuring civility and courtesy, upgrade the level of social service, improve urban and rural environmental images and increase citizens' quality.

   Participants of the launching ceremony included representatives of various circles of Beijing Municipality, ministries of construction, railways and National Tourism Administration, as well as units of the People's Liberation Army and Armed Policy.

   On behalf of Beijing and co-host cities of Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Beijing Vice Mayor and BOCOG Executive Vice President Liu Jingmin read out a statement underlining readiness to carry out the campaign jointly waged by the Office of the Central Steering Committee on Spirit Civilization Construction and BOCOG.

   Mobilization activities have begun this year, focusing on such tasks as the release of publicity materials, preparation for the selection of model persons, volunteer lecture on spectator courtesy, orderly queuing at transport stations and eradication of spitting and littering at public places.

Liu Jingmin reads out a campaign statement.

Scene of the meeting

Audience at the meeting