A sole athlete from Vietnam is set to compete at the ongoing 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, determined to break barriers for a tropical country in the world of winter sports.
Duong Truong Lap, Vietnam’s sole representative, is joined by his coach and the chef de mission, representing three generations of winter sports athletes from the country. Together, they have traveled to Harbin for this historic moment.
For an athlete from a tropical nation like Vietnam, competing in short track speed skating presents a significant challenge.
"In Vietnam, we only have two ice rinks, and they're small., so Lap often travels to neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines for training camps organized by the International Skating Union," said Quang Vinh Ngo, head of mission for the team.
Lap said his journey began with inline speed skating, but he quickly fell in love with short track speed skating.
"It's like flying on the ice, especially when your hands touch the surface," he said.
The team members are in Harbin for the first time, busy taking photos, exploring the crowds, buying equipment, and doing plenty of shopping.
Despite the chilly minus 20 degrees Celsius temperatures, Team Vietnam is determined to give their best on the ice, sharing their passion with other tropical countries.
"We hope the winter game (sports) in Vietnam can be developed faster, stronger, and Vietnam will be a member of the winter sport in the world," said Vo Huu Vinh Nguyen, the team's coach.
Running from February 7 to 14 in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the 9th Asian Winter Games has gathered 1,275 competitors from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the Games in history in terms of participation.
Vietnam's sole athlete at 2025 Asian Winter Games aims to break barriers in winter sports
Vietnam's sole athlete at 2025 Asian Winter Games aims to break barriers in winter sports
Myanmar's new President U Min Aung Hlaing met Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital, on Saturday.
Noting that Myanmar consistently regards its relationship with China as the most important bilateral tie, U Min Aung Hlaing emphasized that Myanmar stays committed to the one-China principle and highly appreciates and actively supports the China-proposed four global initiatives.
The new Myanmar government expects to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, advance the construction of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and work together to maintain border peace and stability, while continuously deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, the president said.
Myanmar will never allow any activities that harm China's interests within its borders, and will continue to intensify its crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Myanmar, he added.
For his part, Wang stressed that China's policy toward Myanmar remains consistent. China firmly supports Myanmar in following a successful development path that suits its national conditions and is supported by its people; firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; and firmly supports Myanmar in achieving national peace, reconciliation and social harmony, he said.
Wang also noted that building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future perfectly aligns with the development and revitalization needs of both countries and serves the fundamental interests of both peoples, urging both sides to unswervingly follow this path.
China is willing to cooperate with Myanmar to resolutely and thoroughly eradicate online gambling and telecom fraud, he noted. China will also support Myanmar's participation in more dialogue and cooperation mechanisms and the enhancement of its interaction with ASEAN, Wang added.
Myanmar president meets Chinese FM
Myanmar president meets Chinese FM
