You know it's a good sign in a politician if he gives the same answer to a question wherever he stands.
That statement from Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was greeted by applause from the audience at Peking University on Monday.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt delivers a speech at Peking University, April 14, 2008. [Asianewsphoto] |
The students were pleased that he gave the same answer:
Last Tuesday, at a meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Sweden, Reinfeldt said that in his opinion "we should not boycott the opening ceremony or the Games".
Yesterday, speaking in a lecture hall of the university's overseas exchange center, he said: "I can tell you that I don't believe in it (the Olympic boycott)."
He was responding to a Chinese student's question on the violent attacks on the Olympic torch relay in London and Paris, and some politicians' call for a boycott.
Reinfeldt said he hoped the Olympics Games would be a success.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt takes a tour of the Beijing University Gymnasium, the venue for table tennis events for the 2008 Olympic Games. [Asianewsphoto] |
"They (the Games) bring the world together in competition, but also in personal meetings and interaction," he added.
Reinfeldt also proposed working with China on human rights in a constructive manner.
He attended a seminar with staff and students at the university's Research Center for Human Rights before the speech.
