With just 30 days until the Olympics opens, officials gathered in Beijing on Wednesday to review preparations for the event, with security and stadium management as priorities.

"We will do our utmost to fulfill the tasks in the final preparations. We will host exciting, wonderful and successful Olympics and Paralympic Games that will satisfy the world, the athletes and the audience," Vice President Xi Jinping told the gathering.

With assistance from the International Olympic Committee and the world, all preparations were going smoothly, he said, extending appreciation to those in China and abroad for contributing to the Games.

In the next 30 days, the country will repeatedly test its security measures to ensure the safety of the coming torch relay in Beijing, the events and the venues, he said.

The local governments of Beijing and its neighboring provinces were urged to finalize their security measures and develop contingency plans.

Residents are welcome to participate in the work, Xi said, adding: "We will enhance international cooperation in this aspect of the preparations."

Another major task will be to have test runs of the venues and improve their efficiency and management, Xi said. "We will test every detail at every post and make sure we find any flaws and correct them as quickly as possible, even during the Games."

Xi also promised to provide good service to journalists coming to cover the Games and good treatment for all foreign guests.

He urged relevant departments to ensure food safety, standard air quality and good traffic conditions, as well as water, power and gas supplies, and to avoid disturbing the daily life of the public.

"We should also do preparation work well for the Paralympics, which means checking working plans for the Paralympic stadiums, examining barrier-free facilities, and mobilizing the public to care about Paralympic sports," he said.

Chinese athletes should train well and prepare for the contests, he said, adding that strict penalties should be introduced against doping, to ensure that all athletes show good spirit and morality.

Xi also urged enhancement of the "civilization campaign" and etiquette education among the public. He said that local spectators should respect players from all over the world, to present a good image of China as a "country of etiquette."

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also attended the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2008)