Xi Jinping meets with IOC officials at the opening of the National Games.
Xi Jinping expressed great satisfaction at meeting with the two IOC representatives.
CGTN – Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Sunday (9) in Guangdong province, southern China, with the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, and the organization's honorary lifetime president, Thomas Bach, who came to China to participate in the opening ceremony of the country's 15th National Games.
Xi Jinping expressed great satisfaction at meeting with the two IOC representatives. "The long journey here fully demonstrates our support for the development of sport in China and also reflects the friendly relations with the IOC," the Chinese leader noted.
The president emphasized that the National Games, which begin Sunday evening Beijing time, are the largest and most important sporting event in the country. "Welcome to join the Chinese people in witnessing the new achievements in sports development and the spirit of Chinese athletes in the new era," Xi Jinping exclaimed.
According to him, China has always been a defender, promoter, and disseminator of the Olympic spirit. In recent years, the country and the IOC have supported each other, jointly carrying out many significant tasks for the progress of sport.
“At the beginning of the year, we attended the Asian Winter Games together in Harbin, a city covered in snow and ice, and today we are together in Guangzhou, marked by the warmth of spring, for the National Games, demonstrating the friendly relationship between China and the IOC,” Xi Jinping described.
He said that China is willing to continue deepening high-level cooperation with the IOC, contributing more wisdom and strength to global sports governance and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Kirsty Coventry and Thomas Bach observed that China actively practices the Olympic spirit and makes significant contributions to the international Olympic development. The IOC appreciates China's long-standing and strong support and looks forward to continuously strengthening cooperation with the country to jointly promote the vigorous development of the Olympic Games, spread its spirit throughout the world, strengthen unity among the peoples of all countries, and promote world peace, the two leaders emphasized.
Source: CMG