Indonesian figure skaters expressed their excitement about competing in the ongoing 9th Asian Winter Games -- an event typically dominated by countries with strong winter sports traditions -- while also praising the beauty of the host city, Harbin.
Running from February 7 to14 in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the 9th Asian Winter Games has brought together 1,275 competitors from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the Games in terms of overall participation.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Indonesian figure skaters Dwiki Eka Ramadhan and Kelly Elizabeth Supangat described the competition as a breakthrough moment for their country's emerging winter sports scene.
"For us, (competing) in the ice dance discipline is like the first time. And actually, in Indonesia, it's the first time we have ice dancing. For us, it’s really a breakthrough. Basically, growing the sport in our country is the most important (thing), especially winter sports, because we come from a tropical country," said Ramadhan.
Supangat highlighted the growing interest in Indonesia’s winter sports scene, noting the surprise many people expressed upon learning that the country has a figure skating team. She emphasized the team's broader goal of expanding participation in winter sports and inspiring more Indonesians to take up disciplines like snowboarding and skiing.
"I know a lot of people on social media have been reposting about our figure skating team, and a lot of comments were like, 'Oh, we didn't know that Indonesia has winter sports,’ and we have a winter sports team in like three disciplines. So our goal is to try to have more people participate in winter sports. And maybe have some people participate in snowboarding and skiing, just because we started this, being ones of the first few people in Indonesia going for winter sports like (at an event like the) Asian Winter Games," she said.
The athletes shared their admiration for Harbin, praising its stunning architecture and vibrant attractions, and highlighted their experience visiting the famous Snow and Ice World, where they got a glimpse of the local tourism scene.
"It is so beautiful. The architecture is really nice. It’s very classic [with] high-rise buildings, and we went to the Snow and Ice World, so we had a little glimpse of the touristy things we are [able] to do here. And it's so fun, and it's so beautiful" said Supangat.
Indonesian figure skaters thrilled to compete at Asian Winter Games
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday that the relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stands at a new historical starting point.
Xi arrived in the DPRK capital of Pyongyang earlier on Monday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Delivering a speech at a welcome banquet hosted by Kim, Xi pointed out that China and the DPRK, linked by mountains and rivers and sharing a common future, have seen their traditional friendship passed down across generations and grow ever stronger over time through the test of the evolving international landscape.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and the China-DPRK relationship stands at a new historical starting point, Xi said, noting that he has reached important consensus with Kim during his visit.
From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, both leaders have agreed to seize the general trend of the times, respond to the shared aspirations of the two peoples, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people bonds, promote the high-level development of China-DPRK relations, jointly open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of both countries, and contribute to the continuous progress of human society, Xi said.
The successful convening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK this year has made strategic plans and major arrangements for the long-term development of the Party and the country's cause, ushering in a new period of comprehensive development of the DPRK's socialist cause, Xi said.
As good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, the Chinese side sincerely wishes that, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim, the DPRK people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set by the Ninth Congress of the WPK and make constant new achievements in the socialist cause of the DPRK, Xi said.
On behalf of the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK, Kim extended the warmest welcome to Xi on his visit. Kim said that Pyongyang was filled with an atmosphere of friendship on this special day as the DPRK's Party, government and people warmly welcomed their most distinguished guest.
Noting that Xi's first overseas trip of the year had brought him to the DPRK, Kim said this fully demonstrated the great importance Xi attached to developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, and constituted the most valuable support for the DPRK's socialist cause.
Noting the meeting with Xi came nine months after their previous meeting, Kim said that during this meeting, they reached important consensus on further advancing DPRK-China relations with new contemporary connotations in light of new changing circumstances, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, which will surely accelerate the development of the DPRK-China friendship with profound historical traditions, and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The DPRK people take heartfelt joy in the remarkable achievements made by the brotherly Chinese people, Kim said, expressing belief that under the leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the great Chinese people will surely create greater achievements in building a great modern socialist country in all respects, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and completing the new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
