Beijing acting mayor meets with Verbruggen

Mr. Guo (L) shakes hands with Mr. Verbruggen.

(BEIJNG, December 17) -- Guo Jinlong, acting mayor of Beijing, met with Hein Verbruggen, chairman of IOC's Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing on Monday.

Guo, who is also deputy secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said the IOC and its Coordination Commission have consistently guided and supported the preparatory work of BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) for the Beijing Olympics, and this is very vital for staging a high-level Olympics with distinguishing features. He expressed hope that IOC and BOCOG would have closer cooperation in 2008 and that new efforts would be made for the common purpose.

Mr. Guo presents a souvenir to Mr. Verbruggen.

Mr. Verbruggen said Beijing's efforts and achievements in the Olympic preparations over the past six years have been obvious to all. In the next year, IOC would, as always, do its best to support BOCOG's work.

On hand were Wang Wei, BOCOG executive vice-president and secretary-general, and Gilbert Felli, IOC Olympic Games executive director.