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WELLINGTON, July 30 (Xinhua)– “I value today’s discussion, and it is very important for human-to-human exchanges. I wish the Beijing Olympics a great success,” Rick Barker, New Zealand minister for internal affairs and civil defense, told a group of Chinese Tibetologists on Tuesday.

At the Parliament Building on Tuesday, the Tibetologists held discussions and exchanged views with seven members of parliament from the Labor, National and Green parties on the current situation and history of Tibet.

Professor Sherap Nyima, head of the Chinese Tibetologist delegation, told the MPs that the 14th Dalai Lama, during his visit to Europe last year, had said 2008 would be a “critical year,” attempting to take advantage of the Olympics to put pressure on the Chinese government and draw attention of the international community. The violent incident in Lhasa on March 14 occurred against such a backdrop.

“Scholars should have their own voice. As a Tibetologist, I have been thinking about the root cause of the March 14 incident in Lhasa and will write several essays on that subject,” said Nyima, who is the Vice-President of the Central University of Nationalities of China.

Commenting on Green Party MP Keith Lock’s questions, Hu Yan, professor of the Party School of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, said, “The Dalai Lama has been in exile for half a century, and only a very small number of Tibetans were with him. They can not represent the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama was attempting to provoke national hatred by saying ‘all Tibetans hate Han nationals’.”

“It is totally untrue. I had worked in Tibet for about two years and I have many Tibetan friends there,” said Hu Yan, who is a Tibetologist

Labor MP Jill Pettis, who has visited Tibet before, was interested in the impact of the opening of Qinghai-Tibet Railway to the life of the local Tibetan people.

Professor Tseyang Changngo, a member of the delegation and Vice President of the Tibet University in Lhasa, said the Tibetan people described the Qinghai-Tibetan Railway as a “Road to Heaven” and “Road to Happiness”.

“The railway contributed to Tibet’s economic development and made it very convenient for Tibetan herdsmen to go to Lasha to pay pilgrims and see doctors and for students to study in other big cities of China,” she said.

The Chinese Tibetologists also held frank discussions with some 10 international relations scholars of the Victoria University, as well as Foreign Ministry officials on Tuesday.

They will hold discussions with representatives of the local Chinese community in Auckland on Wednesday and meet the New Zealand media.

          Hong Kong Olympic Piazza at Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong’s most famous scenic spots, opened here Friday night.

??    The Olympic Piazza, located outside the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, will be open until August 24 to get the city into the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

??    People will be able to watch live broadcasts of Olympic sports events on giant screens there during the Games. A 103-inch plasma television, which is the world’s largest, and a number of 50-inch television screens will broadcast Olympic events live, and the facade of Hong Kong Cultural Center has been turned into a 22-meterprojection screen for competitions broadcasting.

??    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza, Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang said that Hong Kong is honored and proud to co-host the Olympic Equestrian Events and be part of the Olympic history.

??    ”After three years of vigorous preparation, we are ready,” he said, “As we enter the final count-down, we are feeling the heat of the Olympic atmosphere.”

??    ”The activities and setting up of this Piazza create a wonderful Olympic ambiance for the enjoyment of tourists and local residents,” he added.

??    There are various Olympic-themed decorations, providing tourists with backdrops for photos, which include the Olympic Torch, medal-winning Fuwa lantern display, medal presentation podium, and lighting trail.

??    The piazza features a mock-up of Beijing’s iconic “Water Cube” aquatics center, which is 18 meters long, 8 meters wide and 5 meters high. It will feature a spectacular light show every night.

??    On every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, there will be parades featuring local student performances that showcase Hong Kong’s vibrancy and traditional Chinese culture.

??    The piazza is equipped with a range of facilities and displays, including Olympic information kiosks, exhibition and e-books about the Olympic Equestrian Events. The piazza also exhibits life-sized model horses, while three life-sized colorful horse statues designed by local students are displayed in Hong Kong for the first time.

WUXI? China? July 29 (Xinhua) — China’s Olympian Ma Lin was brushed aside by teenage prodigy Ma Long in the Olympic table tennis men’s singles warm-up here Tuesday.

??After downing triple world champion Wang Liqin 3-2 in the team event Monday? Ma Long continued his scintillating form to beat more decorated penholder Ma Lin 4-2.

??Ma Lin? who struggled hard to fend off Ma Long’s charge? failedto seize his chance and dropped the last three sets despite a 2-1 lead.

??Ma Long was downed 3-0 by world No. 1 Wang Hao later? who sealedtheir short encounter 12-10? 13-11? 11-6.

??Earlier in the evening? a seesaw match was staged between Wang Hao and 7th-ranked Chen Qi who wowed the crowd with their cross-court rallies. Chen Qi tried valiantly to halt Wang’s onset but was denied 2-4 in the end.

??The trio of Wang Hao? Ma Lin and Wang Liqin as well as substitute Chen Qi will show up for the men’s events in the Beijing Olympic Games next month.

??Veteran Wan Liqin also had a tough time against 82-ranked Xu Hui before prevailing 4-3 in the afternoon.

??The warm-up acted as a final test for the Chinese squad in the run-up to the Beijing Games. The challengers who overpowered the Olympic squad would be allowed to attend the table tennis worlds next year.

WASHINGTON, July 29 (Xinhua) — Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and U.S. President George W. Bush met at the White House on Tuesday, agreeing to push forward with the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Yang hailed the great development that two countries have achieved in the past seven years in enhancing China-U.S. relations, which he said also contributed to the peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

He noted that Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush have set the direction for the future development of bilateral relations during their meeting held at the sidelines of the Hokkaido G8 summit in Japan earlier this month.

China is willing to work with the United States to follow the direction and push forward with the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries, Yang added.

For his part, Bush told the visiting Chinese top diplomat that he is glad to see China-U.S. relations developing on a favorable momentum that the United States is committing to maintaining, and he also appreciates a good working relationship built with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

On the coming Olympic games in Beijing, Yang expressed his welcome to Bush, who is set to attend the opening ceremony, and wished American athletes excellent performance in the competitions.

Bush said, in return, that he looks forward to visiting China to attend the Olympic games’ opening ceremony.

On the issues of human rights and religion, Yang told the U.S. president that China would like to continue to exchange its views with the United States on basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs, as a way to promote mutual understanding.

He also noted at the meeting that the WTO’s Doha Round trade negotiations are at a critical moment, and its success would help promote world economy growth, which is in the common interest of China, the United States and the international community.

China hopes that all sides can work together to push forward with the negotiations and achieve a comprehensive and balanced result, he added.

Yang also met with Stephen Hadley, assistant to the president for national security affairs.

BISHKEK? July 29 (Xinhua) — “The Olympic aspiration of ‘One World? One Dream’ will definitely come true in Beijing?” Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev told a collective interview by Chinese reporters on Tuesday.

??The Olympiad is a global event reflecting a common aspiration of people around the world for peace and sportsmanship? he said.

??The Chinese government and people have made huge efforts to prepare for the event? Bakiyev said? adding that he believed that the Beijing Olympics will be a successful one with high standard.

??China’s hosting the Olympiad reflected a global recognition of its contribution to the progress of the whole humanity in the new century. As China’s close neighbor? Kyrgyzstan has never be so closed to an Olympic games? said the president.

??Kyrgyzstan “strongly opposes certain people’s attempt to politicize” such a sport event? he said.

??Kyrgyzstan would send a delegation of 20 to Beijing? said Bakiyev. The gold? silver and bronze medallists will each get a reward of 150?000? 100?000 and 75?000 U.S. dollars from the government? he said.

??Bakiyev loved football as a young boy and boxing is always his favorite. “Boxing is not simply fighting. It actually is an art that helps cultivate courage and a clear sense of purpose?” he said.

??Bakiyev said China has long and splendid traditions in medicine and sports? which impressed him immensely during his 2006 tour of the country.

??”I cherish the unforgettable memory of China’s tremendous achievements in politics? economy and culture and its hard-working? warm and hospitable people?” he said.

??Bakiyev thanked China for its assistance to his country in energy? agriculture? transportation? communication and tourism? as well as in its preparation for the Bishkek summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) last year.

??Bakiyev praised the cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China? which he said is progressing in all areas and at all levels. He is confident that bilateral ties will maintain their strong momentum and reach a new high.

Greenpeace, in an assessment of the 2008 Olympic Games, said Beijing had met most of its environmental commitments.

 

“We are glad to see that Beijing has improved its infrastructure in preparation for the Olympics,” Lo Sze Ping, Greenpeace China’s Campaign director, said.

 

“It has made public transport more convenient, upgraded home heating systems, improved water treatment and, to some degree, reduced its reliance on fossil fuels.”

 

The worldwide environmental nongovernmental organization yesterday released a report: Lessons from Beijing, an independent assessment of the environmental initiatives of Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Games.

 

The report acknowledged Beijing’s increased use of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy.

 

Examples include the use of geothermal heating systems and the introduction of wind and solar power.

 

It said Beijing had expanded its public transportation system by adding five new urban railways and raised its emission standard for new vehicles to EURO IV, one of the most stringent in the world.

 

The report said sponsors Coca-Cola and Samsung had both delivered specific environmental commitments.

 

“Coca-Cola commits that all of its 5,658 coolers to be used at Olympic venues will be hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) free.

 

Haier is also providing some air conditioners that are solar powered as well as HFC free.

 

“This is a huge leap from the polluting technologies currently used in the developing world. Beijing has shown that, when a concerted effort is made, change is possible,” Lo said.

 

However, the report also mentioned opportunities the city had missed in using the Games as a platform to implement more ambitious initiatives.

 

For example, it did not adopt an internationally recognized timber procurement policy for Games venue construction materials.

 

And it did not use zero-waste treatment, but constructed more landfill and incineration facilities.

 

Greenpeace encouraged the rest of China to move forward with Beijing toward a sustainable development model.

 

“Beijing has come a long way. We hope that Beijing’s environmental initiatives to improve air quality and to speed up the development of renewable energy can serve as an example for other Chinese cities.

 

“The lessons learned in the Beijing Olympics are vital for China to move toward sustainable development beyond 2008,” Lo said.