"China is doing a wonderful job in getting ready to host this very large (Beijing Olympic) Games," Vanuatuan President Kalkot Mataskelekele told Xinhua in Beijing Thursday.

"I think China is putting up a tremendous effort...China has succeeded in making this one of the best Olympics that has ever been organized," Mataskelekele, who will attend the Games' opening ceremony Friday night, said.

"I don't think it is an easy challenge for a country to host a gathering like the Olympics," the president noted. "It is a festival, a celebration of the best things that China can show to the rest of the world."

Mataskelekele, 59, who visited Beijing last July, said many changes have taken place in Beijing over the past year, in preparation for the upcoming Olympics.

"I saw blue skies yesterday," he said, while commending the Chinese authorities' introduction of the even-odd system for private vehicles during the Olympics, which "has helped clear up the atmosphere."

He said he has seen a lot of new buildings in Beijing, and the city was looking very clean and festive. "I am sure there has been a lot of effort put into making the places look nice and accommodating for the visitors," the Vanuatuan leader said.

Vanuatu, which has an area of 12,000 square km and a population of 200,000, has sent three athletes including two female table tennis players to the Beijing Olympics.

Under the tutelage of several Chinese coaches, Vanuatu's female table tennis team has notched up several impressive wins in regional matches over the past few years. Mataskelekele expressed hope that the two female players would perform well at the Games.

Speaking about Vanuatu-China ties, the president said: "The relationship between Vanuatu and China is very good, stable and friendly. My view is that this relationship will continue to develop."

The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu used to be ruled by Britain and France before winning independence in 1980. It has shifted its focus to Asia over the past 10 to 20 years, Mataskelekele said.

"We want to develop very close ties with Asia, and especially with China. Diplomatically, it is reflected in our overseas missions. We only have three overseas missions: one in New York, one in Brussels, and one in Beijing."

When asked to comment on the calls to boycott the Games' opening ceremony made by some Western politicians earlier this year, Mataskelekele said they have their opinions, but their opinions are not shared by others.

"I, myself, am happy to be here."

"I am looking forward to being wonderfully surprised by what the Chinese people and (Olympic) committee -- and I think young people and children as well -- would be producing tomorrow at the opening ceremony," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)