Sir, - I welcome the decision of the International Olympic Committee to host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in China. China is rapidly opening up to the outside world and we should help it in this respect. I recently visited China and I am fully aware that human rights are a serious problem there.
The Chinese authorities cannot and do not deny this. Engaging in constructive dialogue with the Chinese leadership is the way to promote a greater respect for human rights.
Hosting the Olympics in Beijing will help to further open up the world's most populous nation to greater influences from the international community. The influx of thousands of journalists and spectators, in addition to the universal coverage of the games, will open China up to a level of scrutiny which it will be unable to avoid.
I believe that China is intent on becoming more comprehensively involved within the international community through a structure of upgraded dialogue. The International Community, together with the Chinese leadership, can now address the difficulties in the human rights field which still exist. - Yours, etc.,
Niall Andrews MEP, European Parliament Offices, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.