Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said in Beijing Friday that the Chinese government and all Chinese people will render full support for Beijing to bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

During an inspection tour around Beijing ahead of the traditional Chinese Spring Festival that falls on January 24, Zhu said that Beijing should take this opportunity to further improve its environment and services.

Zhu was accompanied by Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao, State Councilor Luo Gan, State Councilor Wang Zhongyu and heads of Beijing city Jia Qinglin and Liu Qi during his inspection tour.

Zhu urged Beijing to step efforts to build the national capital city into an international metropolis featuring economic prosperity, modern management, beautiful surroundings and sound social order.

He asked Beijing officials to attach importance to urban infrastructure construction and the establishment of a modern urban management system.

The Premier also urged relevant government departments to work hard to improve Beijing's environment by enhancing control of vehicle emission, industrial pollution and pollution from construction sites.

"Beijing is faced with a number of tasks in its modernization drive, but the most important thing is to gear up economic development, enchance urban management, protect the environment and safeguard social stability," he said.

On economic development, he pointed out that more efforts should be made to promote economic restructuring, develop the service industry and upgrade local information infrastructure.

"Safeguarding social security is of crucial importance to both the capital's modernization cause and the overall progress of the country's reform, development and stability," he said, urging Beijing officials to give top priority to maintaining social stability.

(21DNN 01/22/01)