Chinese President Xi Jinping met with International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and IOC Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach in Guangzhou on Sunday, highlighting China's commitment to global sports cooperation. The meeting underscored Beijing's role in fostering international dialogue through athletic exchanges.
Xi emphasized the importance of sports as a bridge for cultural understanding and peaceful development during discussions at the Guangdong provincial capital. "The Olympic spirit aligns with China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity," he stated, according to state media reports.
Coventry and Bach praised China's contributions to Olympic development, particularly following the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. The talks coincided with preparations for upcoming Asian sporting events, including the Hangzhou Asian Games postponed to 2023.
Guangzhou's selection as the meeting venue reinforces southern China's growing status as an international exchange hub. The city previously hosted the 2010 Asian Games and serves as a key economic engine in the Greater Bay Area development plan.
