On the violent attacks of "Tibet independence" groups against China's diplomatic missions in some countries, Qin said China has made serious representations to relevant countries and asked them to protect the security and dignity of Chinese diplomatic missions in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The countries concerned have expressed regret and apologized for the attacks, and pledged to strengthen protection of Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel.

Article in 'The Times' insulting

Qin said Tuesday that the comparison of Beijing Olympics with Nazi Germany's 1936 Berlin Olympics by "The Times" was "an insult to the Chinese and world people".

Qin made the remarks when asked to comment on an article by former British Conservative Cabinet Minister and ex-Defence Secretary Michael Portillo in "The Times" who wrote that China is using the Olympic Games for its own self-aggrandizement.

The Beijing Games is for all the people of the world, Qin said, noting that people in every country sincerely hope to build greater cooperation, friendship and mutual understanding through the event.

When asked if the demonstration by Reporters Without Frontiers during a speech by Beijing Olympic organizing committee President Liu Qi at the Olympic Torch lighting ceremony was embarrassing for China, Qin said it is not for China to feel embarrassed. "The Olympic troublemakers should feel embarrassed," he said.

"Any act attempting to disturb and sabotage the torch relay is unwelcome and unpopular, and those who disturbed the Olympic torch relay should feel embarrassed since they expose themselves as being unsympathetic to the Olympic ideal and the wishes of the common people throughout the world," Qin said.

He said China believes that people across the world welcome the Olympic torch relay, and that they support a smooth relay and a successful holding of the Olympic Games.