DUSHANBE: President Hu Jintao has backed Russia's right to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in the face of international pressure over recent events in Georgia.

     "We want to assure (Russia) that China will firmly support it to host the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi," Hu told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when they met in the Tajik capital before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) summit.

     Some Western politicians have said Russia has no right to host the Winter Olympics because it recognized two Georgian breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as independence states.

     But Hu said China not only supported Russia's rights, but also was ready to provide organizational and security help to make the Winter Games a success.

     In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry Wednesday expressed "concern" over the latest development in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Spokesman Qin Gang said: "We know the complicated history and reality of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia issues

     "In accordance with China's consistent and principled stance on such issues, we hope the relevant parties would resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation."

     Yesterday's meeting between Hu and Medvedev was their second in less than two months. Their first meeting was on the sidelines of the outreach session of the G8 Summit