LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The decision to resume China's membership in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 40 years ago is a great success as the presence of the world's most populated nation has influenced the quality of events and performances, says IOC President Thomas Bach.

Bach visited China last month for the launch of the Olympic mascots. In Beijing, he met top Beijing 2022 organizing committee and government officials.

In an interview by Xinhua at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Bach was asked about the 40th anniversary of China's return to the Olympic family and how it has influenced China.

"Having the world's most populated nation in the Olympic movement has proved a huge success story for China and the Olympic movement in recent years, and you can see the growing contribution of China to the Olympic movement.

"There has also been the growing influence of China on the Olympic movement on the other hand. China and the National Olympic Committee of China is one of only three permanent members of the Olympic summit," said Bach.

China has Yu Zaiqing as a "very prominent" IOC Vice-President who "is greatly influential and greatly appreciated by all the Olympic family," said Bach.

"You have many successful athletes. In the meantime, you have organized almost all the major world sports events, starting from the Olympic Games, down to many regional championships, world championships, etc.

"So, China is really at the center of the Olympic movement, and we are very happy to see China playing this important role," said the IOC president.

He also spoke of the great performances of Chinese athletes.

"It's great to see that sometimes sport was the driving force for very positive developments also in other areas.

"Therefore, the Chinese athletes with all their success are great ambassadors for the dynamic and positive development of China as a country," said Bach.

The IOC Executive Committee passed a resolution on October 25, 1979 in Nagoya, Japan, which resumed the rights of the Chinese Olympic Committee in the IOC.