By IANS
Beijing : China’s massive preparation to host the Olympics this year is a source of inspiration for India, which will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Sunday.
Manmohan Singh made the remarks while visiting an exhibition centre near the National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird’s Nest, in the north of the Chinese capital, the Xinhua News Agency said.
The centre showcases scale models of the Bird’s Nest, ‘Water Cube’, or the National Aquatic Center, and other Olympic venues.
Manmohan Singh, wearing a blue turban and clad in a grey overcoat, was accompanied by Chen Gang, the vice mayor of Beijing.
The prime minister, who arrived here on a three-day visit to China Sunday, nodded in agreement when Chen said that the use of the venues after the Olympics should be considered, especially in heavily populated countries such as China and India.
Manmohan Singh said the infrastructure and other work Beijing had done for the Olympics merited attention from the Indian people in preparing for big events like the Commonwealth Games.
After the visit, the Indian leader wrote in the guest book: “On behalf of the government and people of India, I extend my best wishes for the success of the Olympic Games in Beijing. I hope that the Olympic spirit and warmth of the great city of Beijing will promote friendship, peace and understanding among all participants and countries they represent.”