China Co-host 2008 Olympics with Taiwan

China presented to `co-host with Taiwan` as a bid to hold the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Wian Weimin, Chairman of National Sport Council of China, said that if China win the bid, China can host the Olympics with Taiwan under the great cause of ``One China.``

Chairman Wian visited Taipei to show a token of gratitude as a Taiwan`s support for China`s bid to host the Olympics.

Although there has been many rumors that China may want to co-host, it was the first time that a high rank officially expressed a interest to co-host with Taiwan.

If the Olympics is to be held in Beijing and Taipei, not only opportunities for new investment and business will be created in Taiwan, but also Taiwan will host another sport events after the Olympics, and the tensions between long rivals will be eased, reported China media.

But because the Olympics is usually held in one city, it may be hard to hold the Olympics in two cities, Beijing and Taipei. The site of the 2008 Olympics will be determined at International Olympic Committee meeting in Moscow in June.

Paris of France, Osaka of Japan, Toronto, Cairo of Egypt and Istanbul of Turkey are also competing to host the 2008 Olympics.

Lee Jong-Hwan ljhzip@donga.com