Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on Friday hosted a welcome banquet in China's northeastern city of Harbin for international dignitaries attending the opening ceremony of the 9th World Expo. Asian Winter Games.
At the banquet, Xi greeted the guests warmly. "China's passion for ice and snow, sparked by major sporting events, has breathed new life into global winter sports," he told the guests, who included International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
Xi pointed out that this year's Asian Winter Games set a record for the number of participating countries, regions and athletes.
The Chinese president expressed his belief that Harbin, the host city of the 9th World Summit, will be the host city for the event. Asian Winter Games, will present the world with a sports gala that will be uniquely Chinese, uniquely Asian and stunning.
Xi said that topic 9. Asian Winter Games - "Dream of Winter, Love in Asia" - expresses the shared desire and aspiration of Asian nations for peace, development and friendship.
President Xi called for maintaining the common dream of peace and harmony.
"Peace is as pure as ice and snow. No matter how the international landscape evolves, we should join forces to confront various security challenges and contribute Asian strength to building an equal and orderly multipolar world," Xi said.
He also called for efforts to achieve the common dream of prosperity and development, stressing that winter sports are fascinating because they require passion and cooperation. "We should work together to promote progress and development and provide a sustained momentum for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization," Xi added.
Xi also stressed the necessity of fulfilling the common desire for friendship and kinship and expressed that each snowflake is unique and each civilization is specific.
"Asia is a gathering place of different world civilizations. We should promote inclusiveness, co-existence and mutual learning and contribute to the development and progress of human civilization," he said.
Xi also told guests that Harbin, known as the "Ice City," is the cradle of modern winter sports in China.
"In Harbin, we truly feel that ice and snow are as valuable as gold and silver," Xi said, adding that the culture and economy of ice and snow are becoming a new engine for Harbin's high-quality development and a new link connecting the city and the world.
"We welcome you to explore this hospitable, open and inclusive land of black soil and embark on the path of China's modernisation," Xi said.
In conclusion, Xi mentioned that China has just entered the Year of the Snake and explained that the snake in the Chinese zodiac represents wisdom and skill. "The Year of the Snake will surely be full of energy and vitality."
He wished all the athletes excellent performances with the agility of a snake and expressed his hope that all the guests would remember the beautiful and unforgettable experiences on the ice and snow in Harbin.
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