(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-30 20:52

BEIJING - The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC), published an editorial on Wednesday to hail the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympics.

The editorial, headlined "We Smile to the World," says that hosting such a high-profile event as the Olympic Games is a solemn commitment that China has made as a responsible country and will be a showcase of the Chinese people's unity and cohesion.

To hold a successful Olympics is a century-old dream for the Chinese and conforms to the common wishes of Chinese across the world and people in many countries, it says.

It added that although some people had attempted to interfere with and sabotage the Games, they could not alter the firm pursuit by the world's 6 billion people of the Olympic spirit, which features fairness, peace, understanding and friendship. Nor, it says, could such efforts change the 1.3 billion Chinese people's determination to stage a successful Olympic event for the world.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics offer an opportunity for dialogue between the Chinese and other world civilizations. The 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, the progress of modern China and the honesty and kindness of the Chinese people will all be on display during the grand event, together with diverse cultures and ethnic images from other countries, it says.

The Games will also enable China and the rest of the world to enhance mutual understanding, seek common ground and promote cooperation, according to the editorial.

After 30 years of reform and opening-up, China has made historic changes. China's development and progress needs the world, as much as the world's peace and prosperity needs China, it says.

As a developing country, China will be more open and accommodating while learning from the world's advanced civilizations, it says.

China will unswervingly pursue its own road and work with people across the world to make unrelenting efforts to realize the ideals of humanity, it adds.

It is a deep-rooted conception of the Chinese people that stability is a blessing, the editorial says, adding that sustainable and healthy development can never be realized without peaceful surroundings, nor a successful Olympics.

The responsibilities of a Chinese citizen, it says, are to put state and national interests first, channel patriotism into actions, carry forward traditional virtues, create a favorable environment, be actively involved in the Olympics and make contributions to the Games.