The 9th Asian Winter Games, which concluded on Friday in the renowned "ice city" of Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, drew a record-breaking 1,222 athletes from 34 countries and regions, making it the largest edition of the event in history, according to a press conference on Friday.
Members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Harbin Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee held the press conference to recap the overall success of the Games, highlighting key accomplishments and milestones.
With over 180 competitions in 64 ice and snow events, this edition of the Games was the most comprehensive to date. The addition of Saudi Arabia and Cambodia to the roster of participating countries marked a major breakthrough, broadening the Asian Winter Games' scope and reinforcing its position as a premier international sporting event, according to officials.
Meanwhile, a total of 110,000 spectators attended the events during the Games, immersing themselves in the excitement and energy of winter sports.
"We focused on creating a professional and fair competition environment. The venues were fully prepared, material and equipment support was sufficient, and the competition organization was orderly and efficient. This has been widely praised by athletes, technical officials, team officials, and media reporters from various countries and regions. During the Games, athletes from various countries and regions worked hard and aimed for excellence. They not only achieved excellent results, but also embodied the spirit of fair competition and aimed for new heights. They gained friendship and cultural resonance, demonstrating the Olympic motto of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together,'" said Zhang Haihua, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee and vice mayor of Harbin.
Officials from the OCA reiterated that the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games have set a high standard in terms of preparation, medical services, and volunteer engagement. "Everybody, not only Asia, everywhere, will see the athletes in participation, but also see a beautiful city of Harbin. I'm sure that Harbin has already set the standard, a template, what successful Games [are] about," said Timothy Tsun Ting Fok, first vice president of the OCA.
Harbin Asian Winter Games draw record-breaking 1,222 athletes: officials
China is willing to open its original technologies to the whole world and share the fruits of innovation with all people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Friday at a press conference in Beijing.
Lin noted that innovation has become a keyword for China's economic and social development.
The Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development adopted in October 2025 mentioned "innovation" 61 times, Lin said.
In recent years, according to the spokesman, China has seen major sci-tech achievements emerge thick and fast, and its global innovation index ranking has risen from 34th in 2012 to 10th in 2025.
"China has long regarded science and technology as the primary productive force. Through strengthened conceptual guidance, policy direction and institutional reforms, it has effectively leveraged its market and talent advantages, enabling enterprises to become the main actors of innovation. Through persistent and long-term efforts, China has forged a successful path with technological innovation leading industrial innovation, and industrial upgrading, in turn, promoting technological iteration. This has made innovation a fundamental driving force behind China's economic development," said Lin.
Lin said while competition may accompany the process of innovation, it is by no means the goal of innovation.
"China's innovation is notably open and open-source, in pursuit of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. China's space station has attracted the participation of 23 institutions from 17 countries for its first batch of cooperation projects. China's FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope) is open to observation applications from scientists worldwide. China has initiated the establishment of a global artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation organization and proposed the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative, and is committed to promoting open, inclusive, and beneficial AI development for all. DeepSeek is open to global developers in an open-source manner for use and improvement. These are just a few examples among many," Lin said.
"China is willing to share original technologies and innovation scenarios with the world. Through open cooperation, it aims for mutual empowerment and common growth, ensuring that the fruits of innovation better benefit all humanity," he said.
China willing to open its original technologies to world: FM spokesman
