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.

People of all nationalities living in Tibet are proud that the torch relay will pass through the region. There is no change of plan for the torch to be taken to the top of Mount Qomolangma, Qin said.

As to the European Parliament's meeting on Wednesday to discuss whether to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games, Qin said that China, in the process of preparing for the Olympic Games, is willing to listen to all "just, objective and constructive" views and suggestions from all parties, but is firmly opposed to politicizing the Olympic Games, and is against tying other issues in with the event.