China confident of hosting clean, safe Olympics

(BEIJING, March 11) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman voiced confidence on Tuesday that the country will host a clean and safe Olympics, Xinhua reported.

China is confident about safeguarding the environment and security conditions during the period when the Olympic Games are being held in Beijing, spokesman Qin Gang told the media at a routine press conference in Beijing.

In reply to a question about the upcoming Olympics, Qin said that the improvement of the capital's environment not only served the needs of the Games, but also helped to carry out the scientific concept of development as well as to substantially improve the living standards of Beijing residents.

According to Qin, Beijing spent 120 billion yuan (16.9 billion U.S. dollars) in improving air quality in recent years. The number of "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality, increased to 246 last year from 100 in 1998.

A coordination workshop was also established to help Beijing and its five neighboring municipalities and provinces initiate joint actions in a bid to ensure the air quality during the Games, Qin said.

The government believes the major pollution indices will meet national and World Health Organization criteria. China welcomes athletes from all over the world to participate in the Beijing Olympics, Qin said.

On security, Qin noted China's attachment of great importance to relevant issues. The country has already formulated a strategic plan to ensure safety during the Games in accordance with International Olympic Committee (IOC) requirements.

"A security commanding system based on the experience of previous Games has also been put in place."

Qin said China would continue to keep a close eye on and continue its efforts to improve security conditions during the Olympics. He emphasized that the country has the determination, confidence, and competence to ensure the safety and success of the Olympic Games.