With the Asian Winter Games just 30 days away in the renowned ice city of Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, test events across various disciplines have been in full swing, and organizers are reinforcing their emergency preparedness through a comprehensive system that integrates medical, meteorological, and other vital support services. At a press conference on Wednesday, the official schedules for both the overall competition and individual sports were announced. Ice hockey and curling are set to start before the opening ceremony due to their longer schedules and larger number of competitors. These events will kick off on February 3 and 4, respectively, extending the total competition period to 12 days.
From September 2024 to January 2025, the Games' organizing committee has planned 14 sports events as test runs, covering all competition venues and events.
In the past few days, cross-country skiing test events took place at the Yabuli Ski Resort some 190 kilometers away from Harbin City, featuring women's and men's individual sprints and relay races. These events offered organizers a valuable opportunity to rehearse and fine-tune major operations, including timing and scoring, competition management, medical response, and venue coordination.
According to Wang Guangzhi, deputy commander of the Yabuli snow sports section of the Games' Medical Command Center, specialized equipment has been deployed for emergency rescue in challenging high-altitude areas.
"For some locations hard to access on high mountain slopes, a snowmobile can directly transport ski doctors to the site to provide emergency treatment for athletes. If the patient is in an emergency situation and needs to be transported to Harbin City, we can complete it with a helicopter," Wang said.
In addition, to ensure accurate forecasting, over 60 advanced automated meteorological monitoring systems have been installed in key areas such as the venue for the opening and closing ceremony, competition sites, and along major highways.
The 9th Asian Winter Games, scheduled between Feb 7 and Feb 14, is expected to see the highest participation in the event's history, with a total of 1,275 athletes from 34 countries and regions already registered.
Test events underway, support services ready for 2025 Asian Winter Games
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
