Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    by Huang Xingwei

    WELLINGTON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The head of state of the Independent Sate of Samoa said he was looking forward to attend the wonderful opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics and wishes the Chinese sports team great success.

    In a recent interview with Xinhua, Afioga Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the head of state of Samoa, said: "I am and have been a firm friend of China and therefore I would like the Chinese team to do well in the Olympics, well enough to reinforce the impact of the Chinese achievements in sports and other fields."

    The South Pacific tiny island nation of Samoa will send six athletes to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing. The team includes: archer Joseph Walter, Pacific Games middle distance track champion Aunese Curreen, Serafina Aleki and Farani Tavui in boxing.

    Samoa also has the first Pacific Islander to compete in kayak at the Olympic level, Rudolf Williams, and one of Oceania's great medal hopes, weightlifter Ele Opeloge.

    "Ideally I would like the Samoa Olympic Sports Team to win medals, and if that is not possible, that they perform well by living up to the finest standards of the Olympic tradition," said the Samoa head of state whose favorite sports is tennis.

    Efi said the current relations between Samoa and China are excellent and he expects that they will improve in the years ahead.

    Although Samoa is a tiny island nation, it has donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to China's Sichuan earthquake victims. Such move " reflects the strong ties between the Chinese and the Samoan people, " Efi said.

    He said China and Samoa have strengthened cooperation and exchanges in sports and culture in recent years. China has helped Samoa build sports facilities and sent Chinese coaches to Samoa.

    "Chinese assistance in constructing sports facilities and sending Chinese coaches to Samoa underlines the importance of sports in the physical and spiritual development of youth," said the Samoa head of state.

    The Independent State of Samoa, located in the South Pacific, covers a land area of 2,946 square kms and has a population of 185, 000. Samoa and China have maintained sound relations since they established diplomatic ties in November 1975.