China has announced plans to strengthen ties with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it prepares to host the 2025 Asian Winter Games. The commitment came during a high-profile meeting between Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and IOC President Thomas Bach in Paris this weekend.
Han, attending the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony as Special Representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasized China's long-standing support for global sports initiatives. 'The Olympic Movement safeguards world peace and unites humanity,' he stated, highlighting the Paris Games' timeliness in promoting Olympism amid current global challenges.
The meeting saw warm exchanges between leaders, with Bach praising China's 'extraordinary' execution of the COVID-era Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The IOC president called it 'a blueprint for hosting major events during crises' and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations.
With Harbin set to host next year's Asian Winter Games, the dialogue signals China's growing role in international sports diplomacy. Both parties agreed to work closely on upcoming events while advancing Olympic values worldwide.
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