Interview: Mexican experts say China's image boosted in Olympic Games

  2008-08-22 01:44:52 GMT    2008-08-22 09:44:52 (Beijing Time)    Xinhua

      MEXICO CITY, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The successful

  organization of the Beijing Olympiad and the marvelous achievement of the

  Chinese athletes have combined to boost China's image, Mexican experts said

  Thursday.

      "The most important is that China has fulfilled its

  promises in showing the world community its capacity to organize such a game,"

  professor of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) Natividad

  Gonzalez Chong told Xinhua.

      The fact that China tops the medal table "reflects

  the efforts of all Chinese people and their government in at least the last 15

  years," said Gonzalez, a specialist in social studies.

      The Games showed "a high level of social cohesion" in

  the Chinese society and bore "proof to many years of good governance in the

  country which it is not something new, but something that has started decades

  ago," Gonzalez said.

      According to Gonzalez, China showed its changes to

  the world as "it opens to the world ... It is no longer the remote country full

  of mysteries, it has displayed its cultural and technological advances and its

  respect for humanity."

      The slogan, "One World, One Dream," the Chinese

  government chose for the Games reflects the determination of its authorities to

  protect the environment and to promote universal values of unity, friendship and

  peace, Gonzalez said.

      "'One World, One Dream' reflected China's aspiration

  to accept and share social diversities across the world. This is a very

  important part of the current Games," Gonzalez said.

      The Beijing Olympics definitely changed the world's

  perception about China, Romer Cornejo, professor of the Center of Studies for

  Asia and Africa at the College of Mexico, told Xinhua.

      "China has proved that the security of the

  participating countries has always been guaranteed," Cornejo said, adding that

  athletes from countries in conflicts are also able to compete in harmony on the

  same arena.

      The Olympics will reverse "some racists ideas against

  it. The highest number of gold medals won by China proved that this country is a

  champion" of the 29th Olympiad, Cornejo said.