Special report: 2008 Olympic Games     

    HANOI, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The 2008 Beijing Olympics will produce glorious outcomes and exert profound influence. It will open a new chapter in the Olympic history, said Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet in an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

    Triet is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Games next month. In a recent interview with Xinhua, he spoke highly of the upcoming event.

    "It is not only the honor of China to host the Olympic Games in Beijing, it is also the glory of all the Asian nations including Vietnam," Triet said. The upcoming event will provide a platform for countries across the world to expand exchanges, strengthen friendship and cooperation. It will help to promote world peace and progress.

    The Beijing Olympics will witness the birth of many new world records, said Triet. More importantly, it will develop the concept and value of the modern Olympics through integrating sports, culture and education in one event, he said.

    Vietnam fully sports Beijing Olympics, he said. He expects the best results of Vietnamese and Chinese players in the Games.

    Triet is also a big sports fan. "I love sports, especially football games. Sometimes, I can spare some time for the important matches," he said. "I also love to play table tennis and badminton."

    Triet said the sports, cultural and art exchanges between Vietnam and China has been strengthening over the past years. The bilateral trade and economic cooperation have also been developing fast. China has become Vietnam's largest trading partner.

    This May, Vietnam and China declared to develop all-round strategic cooperative partnership during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh's visit to Beijing.

    Triet believed it will inject new impetus to the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations between China and Vietnam.