Chinadaily.com.cn sharing the Olympic spirit
OLYMPICS/ News


Swedish PM says 'no' to calls for boycott of Olympics
By Zhang Haizhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-15 10:46

 

You know it's a good sign in a politician if he gives the same answer to a question wherever he stands.

That statement from Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was greeted by applause from the audience at Peking University on Monday.


Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt delivers a speech at Peking University, April 14, 2008. [Asianewsphoto]

The students were pleased that he gave the same answer:

Last Tuesday, at a meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Sweden, Reinfeldt said that in his opinion "we should not boycott the opening ceremony or the Games".

Yesterday, speaking in a lecture hall of the university's overseas exchange center, he said: "I can tell you that I don't believe in it (the Olympic boycott)."

He was responding to a Chinese student's question on the violent attacks on the Olympic torch relay in London and Paris, and some politicians' call for a boycott.

Reinfeldt said he hoped the Olympics Games would be a success.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt takes a tour of the Beijing University Gymnasium, the venue for table tennis events for the 2008 Olympic Games. [Asianewsphoto]

"They (the Games) bring the world together in competition, but also in personal meetings and interaction," he added.

Reinfeldt also proposed working with China on human rights in a constructive manner.

He attended a seminar with staff and students at the university's Research Center for Human Rights before the speech.

   Previous 1 2 3 4 Next  
Comments of the article(total ) Print This Article E-mail
PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO COUNTDOWN
MOST VIEWED
OLYMPIAN DATABASE