Relieved at the trouble-free Olympic torch relay in New Delhi, China on Friday appreciated the "great efforts" by the Indian government for its smooth run.
"China expresses its thanks for the warm support and participation of the Indian people and the great efforts by the Indian side," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office said, a day after the relay passed off under a massive security cover in New Delhi.
Beijing was anxious about the smooth passage of the relay in India, home to an estimated population of about 150,000 Tibetans living in exile who have been staging repeated protests to draw global attention to alleged repression in Tibet, ahead of the Olympics in August.
Disruptions of the relay in London and Paris and the hide and seek game in San Francisco and repeated attempts by Tibetan protesters to breach the security in the Chinese Embassy had added anxiety and worry to China which had maintained constant contact with the Indian government.
The state-run media hailed smooth run of the relay, with the China Daily saying New Delhi welcomed the Olympic torch with traditional pomp and pageantry. It carried on its front page a photo of actor Aamir Khan running with the torch.
It also published on another page a photo of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee Vice President Jiang Xiaoyu passing the torch to its first bearer Suresh Kalmadi, President of the Indian Olympic Association.