The success of the ongoing Beijing Olympic Games, which is of great significance for both China and the world at large, will lead the ancient Asian country into a new era, an Egyptian sinologist said in a recent telephone interview with Xinhua.

Abdel Aziz, head of the Chinese Language Department of Egypt's famed Azhar University, stressed that the Beijing Olympics coincided with the 30th anniversary of China's adoption of its reform and opening-up policy.

The Egyptian scholar said the Games in Beijing provided a good platform for China to showcase its wonderful achievements since the reform and opening-up in 1978, particularly in recent years.

"The grand opening ceremony was a colorful shop window to show the great Chinese civilization and history and the latest achievements China has made in various fields," said Aziz.

"I think it will be very difficult (for other countries) to outdo the (Beijing Olympic) Games due to its greatness and legacy," said the scholar, who was one of the few Egyptians that learned the Chinese language in 1970s and has an in-depth study and understanding of the Chinese culture, history and developments.

In 1978, when Aziz was still a junior university student, he went to Beijing for the first time to learn Chinese. In the 1980s, he returned to China for further studies and got his master and doctoral degrees in Chinese Language and Culture.

Aziz said China, the third country in East Asia to host the Olympic Games following Japan in 1964 and South Korea in 1988, will obtain widespread applause from the international community for its great efforts and rising influence.

The Egyptian scholar said China formally started its preparation for the Olympics in 2001 when Beijing was announced to be the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games.

"It has been proved that the unremitting efforts of China for the Olympics have won the recognition of the world," said Aziz, adding China has demonstrated its characteristics in the Games.

As for the legacy of the Olympics, Aziz said the success of the Games will help promote the "soft power" of China as the Olympic spirit demonstrated in the country reflects the comprehensive development of the Chinese society in the fields of economy, culture and sports.

The extensive media coverage of the international sports event will also help the world people understand China, said Aziz.

According to earlier reports, about 30,000 domestic and foreign reporters are involved in reporting the Games, an unprecedented number in the Olympic history.

China has demonstrated its capability by hosting the Games, which is a landmark of China's new age of development.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)