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<The dispatch of this daily> Chinese famous painter Yuan Xikun, at the personal invitation of Samaranch, the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee, visited the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland on December 18, 2000 and presented a portrait of Samaranch and a figure oil painting to the Olympic Museum.
Samaranch met with Yuan Xikun at his office, expressing his thanks to Mr. Yuan for presenting his exquisite and beautiful paintings to the Olympic Museum, and had a group photo with him taken to mark the occasion. Samaranch and working personnel at the IOC Headquarter, after enjoying the sight of these two paintings, spoke highly of Yuan Xikun’s superb oriental painting skill.
During the meeting, Yuan Xikun briefed Samaranch about the Jintai Art Museum of whose foundation he had involved and showed the panorama of Beijing Chaoyang Park where the Jintai Art Museum had been located. Samaranch was very pleased to see the park with a clear lake, surrounding trees and a beautiful scenery. Yuan Xikun excitedly mentioned: “President Jiang Zemin and other state leaders attach importance to environmental protection and promote afforestation, and they once planted trees in person nearby the Jintai Art Museum in Bejing Chaoyang Park, the biggest park in Beijing.” Samaranch said that we should initiate “the Green Olympics” and expressed that he would pay a visit to Beijing at an appropriate time and visit Beijing Chaoyang Park, being a guest at the Jintai Art Museum.
<originally published in the People’s Daily dated January 5, 2001>
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