(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that Harbin, a city in northeast of China and host of the 9th Winter Asian Games, would offer a spectacular sports gala in the world.
During a banquet held before the game opening ceremony by Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, the Chinese leader warmly welcomed the international dignitaries present to attend the ceremony.
Among the guests were the sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Waddalah, President Kyrghize, Sadyr Japarov, Pakistani president, Asif Ali Zardari, Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the National Assembly of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of Korea, wooo Won-Shik, the president of the Olympic International Committee, Thomas Bach, and the vice-president of the Asian Olympic Council, Timothy Fok Tsun-Ting.
The fervor of China for ice and snow, triggered by major sporting events, instilled a new vitality in world winter sports, explained Mr. XI to the guests during his speaking.
The 9th Winter Asian Games attracted the participation of a record number of countries and regions, as well as athletes, noted Mr. XI.
According to the organizers, more than 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and Asian regions will participate in the Games.
Harbin will offer the world a Chinese sports gala, typically Asian and spectacular, explained Mr. XI.
The theme of games, “Winter dream, love in Asia”, embodies the common aspirations of Asian peoples to peace, development and friendship, noted Mr. XI.
He called on Asia to cling to the common dream of peace and friendship, to respond jointly to all kinds of security challenges and to contribute to the construction of an equal and ordered multipolar world.
Mr. XI also insisted on the common research of prosperity and development, calling on Asian peoples to work together to promote common progress and to give momentum to universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
To achieve the common wish of friendship and affinity, Mr. XI called to promote inclusiveness, coexistence and mutual learning between different civilizations.
Harbin, nicknamed the “City of Ice” of China, is the cradle of modern winter sports in the country. The city hosted the third edition of the Games in 1996.
The culture and economy of ice and snow become a new Harbin high quality development engine, as well as a new link between the city and the world, noted Mr. XI.
While the Chinese people celebrates the spring festival, which marks the start of the year of the serpent, Mr. Xi wished all the athletes of “excellent performance with the agility of the snake”.
“Among the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, the snake represents wisdom and agility. The year of the snake will certainly go beyond vigor and vitality,” he said.
High Chinese leaders, including Cai Qi, attended the event.
(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
(Xinhua/ding haitao)
(Xinhua/Yan Yan)
