Prince Albert II of Monaco, who is a member of the International
Olympic Committee, said yesterday he is confident Beijing's staging
of the Olympic Games next year will be successful.
Prince Albert met with President Hu Jintao shortly after his arrival in Beijing
on a four-day state visit.
During the meeting, the two leaders reached wide consensus on
strengthening the China-Monaco partnership in finance, insurance,
environmental protection and tourism, and expanding bilateral
investment and trade.
Hu appreciated Monaco's perseverance in the one-China policy,
saying China is willing to work with Monaco to intensify political
dialogue and exchanges as well as coordination and cooperation in
international affairs.
In response, the prince said Monaco-China ties were raised to
the ambassador level last year, which paved the way for a bright
future for the two countries' friendly cooperation.
He said his country is ready to expand collaboration with China
in various fields to promote bilateral ties.
Prince Albert has previously visited China on four occasions,
but this is the first as head of state. The 49-year-old son of the
late Prince Rainier and Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, who died in
1982 in an auto accident, was sworn in as head of state in July
2005.
The prince is a keen sportsman. He likes soccer, is a judo black
belt, has taken part in the Paris-Dakar rally, and has represented
his country four times at the Winter Olympic Games in the bobsleigh
event.
Prince Albert will participate in the World Congress of Sports,
which opened in Beijing yesterday. He will also visit the Olympic
venues that are still under construction.
Before arriving in China, the prince paid a three-day visit to
Japan where he attended an exhibition of memorabilia of his mother
in Tokyo.
(China Daily April 25, 2007)