Song and dance await torch in sister city

Busy with my duties while accompanying the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on his recent trip to China, I did not have a chance to visit the Water Cube, the Olympic swimming pool, designed by an Australian architect. Instead, I had to immediately rush back to Canberra, because the sacred Olympic flame is on its way to the Australian continent.

Autumn in Canberra is the most colorful season of the year. Having been away for just a week, I was very excited to discover on my return that the colorful Olympic torch relay banners promoting "the Journey of Harmony" are raised and flying high all along the streets of Canberra. These colorful flags and decorations have blended perfectly into the beautiful April landscape of Canberra.

Canberra is a sister city to Beijing. Many Australian friends ask me, "Why was Canberra chosen to be a route among the many cities visited by the Beijing Olympic torch?" My response is, "The former mayor of Beijing, Mr Wang Qishan, has said to me that as the Olympic Games host city, it is our desire to share the honor and excitement with Beijing's sister city."