Foreign leaders express opposition to attempts against Olympic torch relay

Source: Xinhua | 04-12-2008 09:50

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games
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BOAO, Hainan, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Visiting foreign leaders extended support and good wishes to the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games and firm opposition to attempt to politicize the Games and any actions to disrupt the event.

The leaders were attending the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), due to open on Saturday afternoon in Boao, in south China's Hainan Province.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met and held talks with the leaders, many of whom mentioned the Games and the ongoing torch relay.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said his country wished and believed the August Games would achieve sound success. He offered his full support and cooperation.

Pakistan would ensure the best effect of the torch relay within its territory and firmly oppose any attempt to politicize the Games and any activity to sabotage the event, he said.

On April 16, the Olympic torch relay ceremony will travel through Islamabad, Pakistan. In an interview with Xinhua before leaving for China, Musharraf said he would be present at the ceremony.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete said his country was very happy to host the relay. It would devote efforts to ensure its success and would never allow anybody to disrupt it.

He said some people were trying to sabotage the Games, which Tanzania and all other African countries would firmly oppose.

"We fully support all the efforts by the Chinese government and its people and believe that the Games will achieve full success in the end."

The torch relay is to start on April 13 in Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam.

Filbert Bayi, the Tanzanian Olympic Committee secretary general, told Xinhua his country was ready to welcome the flame.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said any attempt to undermine the Games would fail and his country sincerely wished good success for the event.

Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar said he was very glad to attend the Games' opening ceremony and wished success for the great sporting event.

Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev would attend the opening ceremony.

Kazakhstan believed the Beijing Games would be held successfully and the Chinese government and its people have all the capabilities to brave through any difficulties, he said.

Kazakhstan was willing to conduct full cooperation with China to ensure the Games was held successfully, the prime minister added.

The first leg of the 33-day global torch relay outside mainland China started on April 2 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with President Nazarbayev being the first torch bearer.

Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jabir Al-Thani said Qatar would firmly back China in hosting the Games and believed it would achieve full success.

 

Editor:Xiong Qu