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14636
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 09:33
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http://m.oananews.org//node/14636
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Smiling Hu embarks on damage-control ahead of Olympics
Raghavendra Beijing, Aug 1 (PTI) Facing rising flak over Tibet, Sudan and its own human rights record in the run up to Beijing Olympics, Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday spoke out against politicising the Games, asserted that his country was "never hegemonistic" and promised to carry out "political reforms"after the prestigious event.
In a rare interview to a select group of foreign reporters, a usually media-shy Hu said China would honour the pledges made by it when it won the bid for Beijing Olympics and maintained that the event would leave a positive"spiritual legacy" apart from "material legacy" for China.
"I don't think politicising the Games will do any good to addressing any of those issues. It runs counter to the Olympic spirit and also to the shared aspirations of the people of the world," said the 65-year-old Chinese leader, who even sported a smile, a rarity for the country's leaders who generallyappear grim and wooden faced in public.
The Chinese president, also the General-Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, did not specify the issues but some Western leaders had earlier threatened boycott the the Olympics opening ceremony to protest against the crackdownon Tibetans.
Beijing had also been criticised for not using its influence with Myanmar and the Sudanese government to end the genocide there. During the Olympics-centred interview, Hu said China's military policy had always been defensive and neverhegemonistic and it "never pursued an expansionist role".
"Constantly deepening reforms of the economic system and achieving sound and fast economic and social development, we will continue pursuing comprehensive reforms including reforms of the political system," he said apparently referring to demands for relaxing the stringent one party rule in thecountry since 1949.
China was working for peaceful development and a "win-win strategy" in pursuit of peace and in no way posed a threat tothe interests of others, Hu claimed.
China is facing criticism for backing Sudanese government on the Darfur conflict, which is regarded as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, where over 2.5 millionpeople have been displaced.
Asked if there would be a change in media policy and controls after the Beijing Olympics, Hu said the "opening up policy" would remain the same irrespective of the Games. "We welcome foreign journalists to come and report what is happening here." "As always, we will continue to provide facilities to foreign journalists coming to China to report," he said, but added, that, "We also hope that foreign reporters will abide by Chinese laws and regulations and will uphold impartial and objective coverage." Media reports said that since the opening of the Olympic Village press centre today, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages — among them those that discuss Tibetan issues, Taiwanese independence, the violent crackdownon the protests in Tiananmen Square.
Web sites of Amnesty International, the BBC's Chinese-language news, Radio Free Asia and several Hong Kong newspapers known for their freewheeling political discourseare also inaccessible.
Asked about attempts to inject political issues in the run-up to the greatest sporting event, Hu said, it had been a "long cherished desire" of the Chinese to host the Olympics and it was being realized after a century. "Chinese treasure this opportunity," he said, adding they were keen to make theglobal sports gathering a success.
"We want to make people across the world gather joyously on the platform of Olympic Games and promote the spirit," hesaid.
"And I think in this context, we should enter into consultations on an equal footing to narrow our differences and expand our common ground on the basis of mutual respect,"Hu said.
He said that it was inevitable that people from different countries and regions do not see eye to eye on some different issues and added that the Games not only offered "an arena for athletes from around the world to realize glory and dreams but also provided a platform for people to enhance understanding and deepen friendship." "Hosting the Olympics is a century-old aspiration of the Chinese people," Hu said, noting that, as early as in 1908, some Chinese came up with the idea of staging the Games. "As Beijing finally became the host of the Olympics after 100 years of longing, all Chinese people cherish this golden opportunity." "The Chinese share one wish – making the Beijing Olympics a great success, enabling people to enjoy themselves at the Games and carrying forward the Olympic spirit." Hu also defended the massive investment made in organizing Olympics in which China has funneled multi-billion dollars to build infrastructure in Beijing such as airport and strengthening the subway system and state-of-the-artfacilities for the Games.
"New uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the international environment are increasing," the Chinese President said. China would pursue its scientific outlook ondevelopment, he added.
"We will aim to maintain steady and fast economic growth on the one hand and control excessively growing prices on the other," Hu said, adding, "..we want to further strengthen macro-economic regulatory measures.." China, he said, was committed to its policy of deepening reforms and opening up. PTI RA
In a rare interview to a select group of foreign reporters, a usually media-shy Hu said China would honour the pledges made by it when it won the bid for Beijing Olympics and maintained that the event would leave a positive"spiritual legacy" apart from "material legacy" for China.
"I don't think politicising the Games will do any good to addressing any of those issues. It runs counter to the Olympic spirit and also to the shared aspirations of the people of the world," said the 65-year-old Chinese leader, who even sported a smile, a rarity for the country's leaders who generallyappear grim and wooden faced in public.
The Chinese president, also the General-Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, did not specify the issues but some Western leaders had earlier threatened boycott the the Olympics opening ceremony to protest against the crackdownon Tibetans.
Beijing had also been criticised for not using its influence with Myanmar and the Sudanese government to end the genocide there. During the Olympics-centred interview, Hu said China's military policy had always been defensive and neverhegemonistic and it "never pursued an expansionist role".
"Constantly deepening reforms of the economic system and achieving sound and fast economic and social development, we will continue pursuing comprehensive reforms including reforms of the political system," he said apparently referring to demands for relaxing the stringent one party rule in thecountry since 1949.
China was working for peaceful development and a "win-win strategy" in pursuit of peace and in no way posed a threat tothe interests of others, Hu claimed.
China is facing criticism for backing Sudanese government on the Darfur conflict, which is regarded as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, where over 2.5 millionpeople have been displaced.
Asked if there would be a change in media policy and controls after the Beijing Olympics, Hu said the "opening up policy" would remain the same irrespective of the Games. "We welcome foreign journalists to come and report what is happening here." "As always, we will continue to provide facilities to foreign journalists coming to China to report," he said, but added, that, "We also hope that foreign reporters will abide by Chinese laws and regulations and will uphold impartial and objective coverage." Media reports said that since the opening of the Olympic Village press centre today, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages — among them those that discuss Tibetan issues, Taiwanese independence, the violent crackdownon the protests in Tiananmen Square.
Web sites of Amnesty International, the BBC's Chinese-language news, Radio Free Asia and several Hong Kong newspapers known for their freewheeling political discourseare also inaccessible.
Asked about attempts to inject political issues in the run-up to the greatest sporting event, Hu said, it had been a "long cherished desire" of the Chinese to host the Olympics and it was being realized after a century. "Chinese treasure this opportunity," he said, adding they were keen to make theglobal sports gathering a success.
"We want to make people across the world gather joyously on the platform of Olympic Games and promote the spirit," hesaid.
"And I think in this context, we should enter into consultations on an equal footing to narrow our differences and expand our common ground on the basis of mutual respect,"Hu said.
He said that it was inevitable that people from different countries and regions do not see eye to eye on some different issues and added that the Games not only offered "an arena for athletes from around the world to realize glory and dreams but also provided a platform for people to enhance understanding and deepen friendship." "Hosting the Olympics is a century-old aspiration of the Chinese people," Hu said, noting that, as early as in 1908, some Chinese came up with the idea of staging the Games. "As Beijing finally became the host of the Olympics after 100 years of longing, all Chinese people cherish this golden opportunity." "The Chinese share one wish – making the Beijing Olympics a great success, enabling people to enjoy themselves at the Games and carrying forward the Olympic spirit." Hu also defended the massive investment made in organizing Olympics in which China has funneled multi-billion dollars to build infrastructure in Beijing such as airport and strengthening the subway system and state-of-the-artfacilities for the Games.
"New uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the international environment are increasing," the Chinese President said. China would pursue its scientific outlook ondevelopment, he added.
"We will aim to maintain steady and fast economic growth on the one hand and control excessively growing prices on the other," Hu said, adding, "..we want to further strengthen macro-economic regulatory measures.." China, he said, was committed to its policy of deepening reforms and opening up. PTI RA
