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Swedish Prime Minister sends 'green' message to China (3) |
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15:41, April 09, 2008 |
I don't believe in that
Q: Beijing will hold the Olympics and it is a big event for China as well as for the whole world, will you say something about it?
PM: Exactly, it is such a major event that we should not miss. So many people are looking forward to it, I think Olympics, especially the summer Olympics is always the number one thing when the world is getting together, competing in athletics. I know a lot of Swedish will follow this with great interest. Swedish athletes are really prepared to go. We have really followed the thorough preparation that has been done on the Chinese side and I think it is very correct that China said that we will have an open atmosphere because there will be a lot of reporting on what the athletes are doing, I hope it will be the kind of success it deserves to be.
Q: Some people want to boycott the Beijing's Olympic Games recently, what's your opinion about the boycott?
PM. Well I said I don't believe in that, since the decision was taken to have it in Beijing, we should follow through, and China knew that this was met with asking for more open policy towards media, for instance. And for a lot of things we need a dialogue, human rights, situation in Tibet and others. We should have a working dialogue for that. But I am a strong believer in not mixing athletics with politics. Therefore I think it is good if we follow through the Olympics, and myself going to China now and I will have the political dialogue where it should be between politicians.
Family is also important
Q: People saw you shop in the supermarket, do you still do that?
PM: I do.
Q: Do you also cook?
PM: Absolutely. I think it is very important in our democratic system to send a signal that you are elected as one of the people. And you live, well not exactly as one of the people, in a sense a little special during these years, but very much outside my prime minister time, I have a very common everyday life with my three children, in the supermarket, cooking food for myself and my children and I like very much to do that.
Q: How much time do you allocate for them?
PM: I have long work days, but I try in the early evenings to be with my family, to make them food, go through my children's home work from school and to be able to put them to bed and then I can work a little again, so everyday I have contact with my children and my wife as well of course.
Q: Finally will you speak something more to the Chinese people?
PM: I think these are two countries that are very curious about each other. And they have more and more contacts, therefore I see a very bright development between our two countries. I think actually we have a lot to discuss since we have interest in sustainable efforts, in how to keep a good society together. So I hope that they feel that I come in the best interest to try to have this dialogue related very much to environmental issues. I know this is a great concern for many in China as well.
By Xuefei Chen People's Daily Online correspondent in Stockholm.
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