Chinese President Hu Jintao said Monday the successful hosting of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics symbolizes China's capability of making more contributions to the human civilization.

Hu made the remarks at an awarding meeting for people who made outstanding contributions to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with gold medal winner Cheng Fei before the awarding meeting for people who made outstanding contributions to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 29, 2008.(Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Premier Wen Jiabao, and other top leaders Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang also attended the meeting.

Hu said that the hosting the Olympics offered the world an opportunity to know more about China and China to know more about the world.

"We would definitely cherish and carry on the spiritual heritage from hosting the two successful Games," Hu said.

On behalf of the Chinese people and government, Hu expressed gratitude to the Olympic family, the international community and the participating countries and regions, as well as the people who made great efforts and sacrifices for the Games.

Hu thanked overseas Chinese for their support, mentioning donations for building Olympic facilities such as the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube swimming pool, and the supports to the torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games in many countries.

"After strenuous work in the past seven years," Hu said, "China fulfilled the solemn promise to the international community that it would organize a wonderful games for the world."

Representatives of prize-winning teams and organizations attend the awarding meeting for people who made outstanding contributions to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 29, 2008. The central authorities awarded 340 teams or organizations as well as 566 individuals for their outstanding work for the Olympics and Paralympics during the meeting held here on Monday. (Xinhua Photo)

"We achieved great success and spread the great Olympic spirit, which benefited the friendship and mutual understanding among the world people," Hu said. "We imprinted the Olympic history book with a unique Chinese stamp."

Hu asked the Chinese people to sum up the treasured experience in organizing the excellent Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and promote innovation in governance and management.

"We should further free our mind, take bolder steps in the process of reform and make more innovations," Hu said.

Hu emphasized that the success of hosting the great Olympics was achieved after a disastrous earthquake hit Sichuan Province on May 12.

"No hardship could ever stop the courageous Chinese nation," Hu said, adding that the Beijing Olympics showcased China's advantage of mobilizing collective wisdom and strength of the nation in carrying out significant missions.

Representatives of Chinese athletes attend the awarding meeting for people who made outstanding contributions to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 29, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

The Olympic spirit, said Hu, would promote the Chinese people to advance their civilization, strengthen the Chinese cultural soft power, enrich their own social life and boost their morale.

The president praised all the people and organizations which had made different contributions in the latest seven years after Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Games.

In his speech, Hu also briefly reviewed the history of Chinese Olympic participation including the first proposal to host an Olympic Games one century ago and the remarkable first gold medal achieved at Los Angeles Games in 1984.

The central authorities awarded 340 teams or organizations as well as 566 individuals for their outstanding work for the Olympics and Paralympics, including some from the more than 1.7 million volunteers for the two games.

The Olympic host country also gained unprecedented glory in sports, winning 51 gold medals.

At the awarding meeting, which was attended by more than 6,000 people, Vice President Xi Jinping read the decisions of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council on awarding organizations and individuals for their work for the Olympics. The State Council also decided to award the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) and the Hong Kong sub committee for the Olympic equestrian competition.

BOCOG President Liu Qi, who is also secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, representatives from athletes, volunteers, organizers, security workers and the armed forces also spoke at the meeting.

Xia Geng, mayor of the Olympic co-hosting city Qingdao, Liu Chunhong, Olympic weight-lifting gold medalist and other volunteer and organizer representatives also gave speeches at the meeting.

Editor: Yan