As the Chinese mainland enters the Year of the Snake, leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Brunei, and Thailand convened in Harbin for the grand opening of the 9th Asian Winter Games. The event, themed \"Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,\" marked a significant moment for regional cooperation and cultural exchange.
Chinese President Xi Jinping officially declared the Games open at the ceremony, signaling China's continued commitment to hosting major international sporting events. This marks the third time the Chinese mainland has hosted the Asian Winter Games, following the 1996 Harbin and 2007 Changchun editions, and adds to the legacy of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Since securing the bid in July 2023, Harbin has undergone extensive preparations to welcome over 1,200 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia, making this edition the largest in terms of participation.
\"Fantastic! Very good,\" remarked Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al-Musallam to CGTN, praising Harbin's facilities, hospitality, and climate, which he believes will enhance the athletes' experience and performance.
Bridge for Cultural Exchange
The Asian Winter Games in Harbin serve as a powerful bridge for cultural exchange, transcending borders through the universal language of sports. Supitr Samahito, vice president of the Thai Olympic Committee, highlighted that the Games offer a unique platform for Asian countries and regions to showcase their cultures and deepen mutual understanding.
\"The Asian Winter Games are not just a sporting event but also a unique opportunity for Asian countries and regions to showcase their cultures and deepen mutual understanding,\" Samahito stated.
Mitsuya Yuko, vice president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, echoed this sentiment, saying, \"The slogan of the 9th Asian Winter Games embodies the vision of deepening connections across Asia through winter sports. It is hoped that the power of sports can reconnect people closely and promote communication and mutual understanding.\"
Win-win Cooperation
During the opening ceremony, President Xi engaged in separate discussions with the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Brunei, and Thailand, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
In talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Xi emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in cross-border e-commerce, big data, and artificial intelligence to drive growth.
Meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Xi expressed appreciation for Pakistan's support of global initiatives and cooperation mechanisms, pledging to deepen practical collaboration and upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
With Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Xi discussed building the China-Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area and the New Land-Sea Corridor as dual hubs of development.
In conversations with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Xi acknowledged Thailand's effective measures against online gambling and telecom fraud, advocating for continued strengthening of law enforcement and judicial cooperation to ensure the safety and orderly exchanges among regional countries.
The opening ceremony concluded with the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents, reinforcing the collaborative spirit among the participating nations.
Reference(s):
Heads of 4 Asian countries attend 2025 Harbin Games opening ceremony
cgtn.com
