By Wu Jiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-17 07:19

It is wrong to boycott the Olympics by making use of the Tibet issue; the Games should be free of any political or religious issues, Italian media tycoon Cesare Romiti said on Tuesday.

"The Olympics belongs to young people and is a sports event that the whole world expects to enjoy It is a precious chance for the people of the world to come to China to promote friendship and enhance mutual understanding," he said.

Also, dealing with the current situation in Tibet is an internal affair for China and the Chinese government to handle, Romiti said.

Although Europeans have longed been attracted to the natural beauty of Tibet, many of them know little about the place, he said.

"Most of us don't understand how Tibet works or know much about the Tibetan culture. How to improve communication remains a problem."

Asked about alleged Western media bias in reports about the Beijing Olympic torch relay and the riots in Tibet, Romiti said all newspapers should provide the whole story about the events they report on and not just seek to please their readers.

"If journalists and editors just publish what their readers want to see, for economic gain, instead of reflecting the true picture, it is a vital shortcoming and a mistake they should try to avoid," he said.

The honorary president of Italy-based RCS media group, and former managing director of the Fiat group, has been on a four-day visit to China as the president of the Italy-China Foundation. His visit ends today.

Octogenarian Romiti first visited China in 1969, a year before the establishment of diplomatic ties between Italy and China. He said "the changes that have taken place in China over the past three decades are amazing".

"The development of China is good news for Westerners, as they are finding opportunities there, but Europe is also afraid of China, as it is now the competition," Romiti said.

The Italy-China Foundation also yesterday signed a series of deals with the Chinese government and other organizations to promote exchanges.

(China Daily 04/17/2008 page6)