President Hu inspects transport preparations for Beijing Olympics

President Hu Jintao has inspected transport preparations for the upcoming Beijing Olympics. The president wants transport facilities and services to meet the high demands of the Games and the public.

Chinese President Hu Jintao rides on a high-speed train to
test Beijing's transport preparations for the upcoming
Olympic Games on June 25, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

First stop for Hu Jintao on Wednesday was the Beijing South Railway Station. The new terminal is for express lines bound for the neighboring coastal city of Tianjin to the east and the economic hub of Shanghai to the south.

The station employs high-tech and energy-saving applications. It has completed testing and will be ready for passengers a week before the Olympics.

President Hu took a trial ride to Tianjin. The railway is China's first that supports speeds of up to 300 kilometers an hour. During the Games, the shuttle will carry athletes, spectators and other passengers to and from the two cities within half an hour. Tianjin will host some preliminary football matches.

Next was the airport express line that links with downtown at the Dongzhimen subway station.

At the Dongzhimen terminal, the president was briefed on testing operations. He bought a ticket from a vending machine and tested the express train. The 20-minute ride took Hu Jintao to Terminal 3, the world's largest airport building. Launched in March, it can host more than three hundred planes at the same time.

President Hu Jintao said, "The Capital International Airport is the gateway of China. In a sense, your image represents our country's image, and the quality of your service also represent that of the Beijing Olympics. We have to promote the spirit that service come first."

The president also spoke with some foreign passengers. He said China will open its arms to welcome all the friends from around the world.

A Swiss passenger told Hu Jintao that China has made amazing changes.

Hu Jintao also inspected the main control tower, which handles thousands of flights every day.

The president has told Beijing authorities that good transport plays a key role in ensuring a smooth Olympic Games. He says the new infrastructures are part of China's promise of a "safe and fast track towards the Olympics."