Q: What is the long-term impact of the Olympic Games for the Chinese people? What are the advantages of the Olympics on contacts and cooperation between Europe and China?

A: First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Mission to the European Communities, I would like to thank the Belgium China Association and China Vandaag magazine for your care and interest in the Beijing Olympic Games, China's development and China-EU relations. We appreciate the efforts of Belgium China Association and China Vandaag to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the people in China, Belgium and in Europe. I hope you will continue to contribute to the healthy and stable development of China-Belgium and China-EU relations.

Let me briefly explain the goals, concepts and slogans of the Beijing Olympic Games. For the Beijing Olympics, the goal is to host a unique and high-quality Olympic Games. There are three major concepts, namely Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's Olympics. The theme is "One World, One Dream", which expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. It is our belief that peace and progress, harmonious development, living in amity, cooperation and mutual benefit and enjoying a happy life are the common ideals of the people throughout the world. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace. The Beijing Olympic Games presents a major opportunity for enhancing friendship among countries, pursuing human progress and building the harmonious world. As the host, China will provide good service and satisfying contest and living conditions for the world's athletes, coaches and guests.

On the first question, the Olympic Games are the largest gathering of people around the world and a stage for mutual understanding, communication and friendship. The Beijing Olympic Games will have a positive impact on contacts and cooperation between China and the EU. Particularly, since the Beijing Olympic Games is preceded by Athens and will be followed by London, it has a special significance to sustain the friendly sentiments between China and the EU, as the Torch is passed from a European city to us and onwards to another European city. The Beijing Olympic Games will display the Olympic spirit of unity, friendship, progress, harmony, participation and dream. It will serve as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between athletes and the people of China and the EU. The Beijing Olympic Games will also provide enormous business opportunities to European companies and contribute to economic cooperation and trade between China and the EU. Moreover, President of the European Commission Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso just made a successful visit to China with a strong line-up. After the Olympic Games, China will host the 7th ASEM summit and Chinese leader will attend the 11th China-EU Summit in France. It can be said that 2008 is both the Olympic year and a year of in-depth contacts, exchanges and cooperation between China and the EU. We hope that the Beijing Olympic Games, together with the 7th ASEM Summit and the 11th China-EU summit will give new impetus to the healthy and stable development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and bring more benefit to the Chinese and European people.

Q: How the Chinese people react to the riots in Europe around the Olympic flame?

A: The Olympic torch relay was disrupted in Europe by a certain number of people with ulterior motives, to which the Chinese people expressed dismay and indignation. The Chinese people at home and abroad spontaneously expressed their strong resolve to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose politicization of the Olympic Games. It was only a very small number of people who disrupted the torch relay. Most European people support the Beijing Olympic Games and support friendship between China and the EU. We believe that the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and European people will not be sabotaged by the disruption of that small number of people. We hope to work together with the people throughout the world, including the European people to strive for a successful great event of the Olympic Games.

Q: What are the changes in the lives of the persons who live nearby an Olympics site? What do they think about the games? What is the impact of the games in the other provinces and towns?

A: When selecting location for the Olympic venues, the following elements were taken into consideration. First, make sufficient use of existing resources and make economical use of land to minimize relocation. Beijing made all possible efforts to repair or renovate existing sports facilities, hotels and apartment facilities, while meeting the requirements for hosting Olympic Games events. Secondly, choose more number of near-suburbs with lower population density and a relatively small number of households. Thirdly, take into account the Old City landscape and heritage conservation. There is no venue project construction in the protected heritage zone of the Old City.

Relocation of the residents living nearby the venues is carefully carried out in strict accordance with relevant laws and regulations. The level of compensation is determined based on the market price of similar housing in the neighborhood, so that relocated residents can afford to buy proper housing. Relocation has brought benefit to the local community. For instance, relocation for construction of the Olympic Park and Wukesong Stadium mainly involved local farmers. After relocation and resettlement, they moved into residential compounds with good environment and convenient facilities. Through government-organized skill training, they were able to find new jobs and no longer have to worry about their lives. Relocation therefore was understood and supported by the residents involved.

Qinhuangdao, Qingdao, Shenyang, Tianjin and Shanghai-these five cities which are also involved in the hosting of the Olympic Games-made repair and alteration of existing venues and built modern sports facilities as well. These projects improved the conditions and the environment for sports and brought tangible benefits to the local people.

Q: The "Birds Nest" and the "Water Cube" are the most impressive stadiums. What happens with them after the games? What is the destination for the other Olympics stadiums and sites? What happens to the accommodations for the athletes, escorts and officials?

A: Regarding the post-game use of "Birds Nest", "Water Cube" and other Olympic venues and accommodation facilities, they were already considered in the design and construction phase and this is true to all other new venues and renovated venues. The Beijing Olympic Games is committed to the concept of economical Olympics and sustainable development. Under the precondition of meeting the functional requirements for the Olympic Games, full consideration was given to the balance between permanent facilities and temporary ones. For example, according to the approved plan, the core area of the Olympic Park, which the "Birds Nest" locates, will become a public complex center for sports, conferences and exhibition, cultural entertainment, business and leisure shopping. Meanwhile, "Birds Nest" will become one of Beijing's landmarks and a tourism hot-spot for quite a long time. Moreover, during the design and construction, a lot of work was done to give the "Birds Nest" more functions in floor and space so that besides hosting the opening and closing ceremony and holding contests, it will also meet the needs for fitness, business, exhibitions and shows. This lays a solid basis for successful post-game development. In the same spirit, every detail in the tendering, design and construction of the "Water Cube" has taken full consideration of post-game operation. After the Olympic Games, it will be remodeled into a water recreation center for citizens in Beijing and open to the public. In addition, six Olympic Stadiums such as the China Agricultural University Gymnasium, Beijing University Gymnasium and the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium will be in service for college students and faculties and the neighborhood after the Olympics. In short, the Olympic venues and facilities serve the Olympic Games but more importantly serve the community and the public.

Q: What happens to the many, many workers imported from other regions that came to Beijing in the construction of the games?

A: Beijing is a growing city. It is still in the peak of infrastructure building. According to the strategy of new Beijing, new Olympic Games, there are many other projects under construction in addition to the Olympic projects, There are about one million migrant workers in Beijing currently undertaking various kinds of projects among whom 30,000 involved in Olympic projects. As for whether these workers will stay in Beijing or not after the Olympics, it will be mainly up to their own willingness and the demand of the projects. The Chinese Government will stay committed to the people-centered concept and effectively protect the due rights and interests of migrant workers.

Q: Can China reach the top in the battle for the medals?

A: It is the hope of all Chinese people that their players will score good results in Beijing Olympic Games. The Chinese sports community are training and working very hard to give a good performance. In Olympic contests, overall strength is vital, yet there are also many uncertainties. This is exactly what's so fascinating about sports.

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