China has fulfilled its promise to the world when the Olympic torch was carried to the top of Mt Qomolongma, the world's highest peak on Thursday. A thirty-meter torch relay was held on the world's highest peak, the first time in history. This report was filed by CRI'S You Yu files from the Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp.

Reporter:

The squad of 12 climbers clustered together, holding the Chinese national flag, the Beijing Olympic flag and the five-ring Olympic flag, cheering "We made it" and "Beijing welcomes you".

Comprising Han Chinese, Tibetans and also university students, the 19-member team left camp before dawn and reached the 8,844-meter summit a little more than six hours later.

The head of the Qomolangma leg of the relay is Li Zhixin.

"This time we feel more responsibility. Years of wishes and dreams have come true during the ascent. In the meantime, we have also fulfilled our promise to the world. We made it."

With the successful ascent, Beijing has fulfilled its promise, which was made seven years ago when it bid to host the Olympics. Among its pledges to the International Olympic Committee was to carry the sacred Olympic flame atop the snow-covered peak.

Ivorby Zhadu is one of the 12 climbers who carried the torch the final few metres. It was the fourth time he has reached the summit.

"On the top, I can have a panorama of everything down there, people, animals, and landscape, as well as from the Nepal side. I feel it's just like I am flying."

The relay on Mt. Qomolangma started with Tibetan climber Gyigyi as the first bearer and Wang Yongfeng as the second. The last of five torchbearers was Tibetan woman Cering Wangmo, who held the flame aloft on the world's highest summit.

The team was trimmed from 70 members to 50, and finally only 12.

Zhang Zhijian is the spokesman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association.

"Only a few people can reach the top, and fewer can hold the torch on the peak. When we focus on those people high up there, don't forget people down here who have been working so hard for that."

Televised live, it was the first time for the Olympic torch relay to be held at such high elevation.

The Qomolangma flame will be kept in Lhasa before reuniting with the main flame in June.

You Yu, CRI news, Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp.