Russian-Chinese Friendship Association on Monday issued a statement backing Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will hold a conference in Moscow this summer to decide the venue of the 2008 Olympics, says the statement, voicing the association's absolute support for Beijing's bid.

The statement says Beijing has every reason to host the Games, as it has successfully hosted the 1990 Asian Games and has made good preparation for global sport events by constructing sport installations and necessary infrastructure.

As a big sport power, China is the birthplace of many sport games, the statement notes. Chinese athletes have also gained numerous medals in the Olympic contests in recent years.

The statement highly appreciates China's significant achievements in developing sports and improving people's living standard during the past 20 years since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy.

If China, a country with one fifth of the world population, could not host the Games, the Olympic principles of "equality and broadness" would not be really realized, it says, emphasizing that China has never hosted an Olympic Games and the Asian countries just had two such chances.

The association opposes any attempt to discriminate and isolate the great Chinese people, while urging the IOC to advocate Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, the statement says.

If the 2008 Olympic Games was held in China, the history of world sport would open a new page and the mass sports in China and the Asia would enjoy a jumping development, it believes.

(People's Daily 04/24/2001)