President urges collective efforts for peace, development

President Xi Jinping called on Friday for collective efforts to pursue the shared aspirations of the Asian people for peace, development and friendship, as he and his wife, Peng Liyuan, received foreign leaders and representatives of international sports organizations ahead of the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

Addressing a welcoming banquet ahead of the opening ceremony, Xi said peace is as pure as ice and snow. "No matter how the international landscape evolves, we should join hands together to meet all kinds of security challenges and contribute Asian strength to building an equal and orderly multipolar world," he said.

Xi underscored the significance of collaboration in promoting progress and development, and emphasized the need to sustain the drive for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

"Winter sports are fascinating because they require passion and collaboration," he said.

Speaking on a snowy day, Xi drew parallels between the uniqueness of every snowflake and the distinctiveness of civilizations, highlighting that Asia is a convergence of diverse civilizations.

"We should promote inclusiveness, coexistence and mutual learning, and contribute more to the development and progress of human civilization," he said.

With a theme of "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia", the 9th Asian Winter Games are taking place in Harbin, known as China's "Ice City" and the cradle of China's modern winter sports. The Games, which will run through Feb 14, have set a record for the number of participating countries, regions and athletes.

The Games are also the latest international comprehensive winter sports event held in China, following the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which contributed to China's goal of involving 300 million people in ice and snow activities.

"From the Olympic Winter Games Beijing to the Asian Winter Games Harbin, the passion in China for ice and snow has swept across the nation," Xi said. "It has also invigorated winter sports around the world."

He expressed confidence that Harbin would deliver to the world a sports gala that is distinctly Chinese, uniquely Asian and spectacular, thus writing a new, magnificent chapter of ice and snow sports.

Xi said that the ice and snow culture and economy are becoming a new driving force for the high-quality development of Harbin and a new bond linking the city and the world.

"We welcome you to explore this hospitable, open and inclusive land of black soil, and to trace the path of Chinese modernization," he said.

In the Year of the Snake, which began on Jan 29, Xi extended his wish that all athletes will have excellent performances with the agility of a snake.

Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his wife, Aigul Japarova, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and the Republic of Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and his wife, Shin Kyung-hye, attended the opening ceremony. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, first vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, were also among the guests.