UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his confidence that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be the most successful ever in history.

"I am quite confident that the Chinese government and people will make this most successful ever Olympic Games in history," Ban said.

The UN chief made the comment during a recent interview with UN-based Chinese journalists about his upcoming visit to China in early July.

During the visit, he will congratulate the Chinese government and people on their "very successful preparations" for the Beijing Olympic Games, Ban added.

"The Chinese people should be very proud of what you have achieved so far for the coming Olympics Games," he told Chinese journalists at the UN Headquarters.

Ban is scheduled to visit China from July 1 to 3 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

The Beijing Olympics, the third ever held on the Asian continent following Tokyo and Seoul, should be used as a venue where the world people can demonstrate their athletic skills through fair competition, he said.

"But at the same time this should be the venue where we can promote the harmony and friendship and mutual understanding, transcending all ideologies and ethnicities and national geographical boundaries," the secretary-general said.

Ban said he will also have an opportunity to visit the Olympic facilities.

"I am looking forward to my visit to China with great expectation and excitement," he added.