President of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) Liu Qi met with visiting former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffrain on Monday.

Extending welcome to the guest, Liu said friendly relations between China and France have moved forward continuously with the propelling efforts of the leaders of the two countries. Liu is also member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Secretary of the Beijing Municipal CPC Committee.

He said the Chinese government has attached great importance to preparing for the 2008 Game. On 1 October this year, President Hu Jintao made important instructions in a visit to inspect the construction of Olympic venues. BOCOG and IOC held the 7th full session of the Coordination Commission recently. BOCOG and IOC successfully co-chaired the 2006 World Forum on Sport, Education and Culture. BOCOG has also made effort to provide through services and create a favorite environment for news media..

Updating the guest on the preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games, Liu said construction on all new Olympic venues have started and the main structures of major venues such the National Stadium and National Aquatics Center will be completed within the year.

Liu said the Beijing Olympic Games provides a good opportunity to show the Chinese culture and for the exchange of multi-cultures. BOCOG wants to see a positive cooperation with the French side on the use and promotion of the French language. "We will abide by the international practice to widely use French in the 2008 Games," said the BOCOG president.

Raffrain spoke highly of BOCOG's achievements in the Olympic preparation, expressing confidence that Beijing will host a successful Olympiad.

Present at the meeting were Chinese ambassador to France Zhao Jinjun, BOCOG executive vice president and Secretary-general Wang Wei, and French ambassador to China Philippe Guelluy.