Xi's winter sports vision fuels growth, unity in China: IOC president

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach praised China's remarkable progress in meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2014 goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports, noting its significant impact on the nation's well-being as well as the global Olympic movement.

Shortly after attending the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin earlier this month, Bach sat for an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Beijing on Wednesday, where he celebrated the strides China has made in winter sports.

He praised China's dynamic and forward-thinking approach while recalling how President Xi set the ambitious target during their meeting at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

"It sounded like a very ambitious goal, that China and this is what I like so much is ambitious and dynamic and forward-looking. But when I heard this figure for the first time from President Xi, three hundred million in winter sport, I compared this to the winter sport fans in the rest of the world. Then I realized that with this Olympic Winter Games Beijing, we would have the opportunity to have a winter sport and this is where we are now," the IOC president said.

"With this huge growth and even overachieving this ambitious goal, and at the same time also on the elite level, seeing the Chinese athletes shine on the international scene by again heading the medal table at the Asian Winter Games," he added.

Creating more winter sports fans across China has far-reaching benefits not just for the health and unity of the Chinese people but for the Olympic movement as a whole, he stressed.

"It's the legacy in the heritage which it leaves to the Chinese people and to the entire Olympic movement across the world. For the Chinese people, this engagement creates more prosperity, creates better health, creates well-being, creates cohesion, and for the entire Olympic movement it is opening a new dimension of winter sports," said Bach.

Echoing President Xi's statement that "snow and ice are valuable assets", the IOC president emphasized the significant economic benefits that winter sports bring to China, boosting national prosperity and growth.

"I'm sure of this because they can experience it firsthand when coming to China, getting this feeling and seeing the figures of the ever-growing contribution of the sports industry in general and the winter sports industry in particular to the economic growth of China and with this to the prosperity of the people," he said.

Xi's winter sports vision fuels growth, unity in China: IOC president

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the red line on protecting civilians in conflicts must not be crossed.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Abdullah briefed Wang on the regional situation and the UAE's position, saying the country is not a party to the war, has not participated in the current conflict, and should not be subjected to illegal attacks.

He expressed appreciation for China's consistent objective and impartial stance, adding that the UAE expects China to continue to play an active and important role in the current grave circumstances to prevent further escalation of regional tensions.

The UAE will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country, Abdullah said.

For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position on the current situation in Iran, noting that the spillover of war serves no one's interests and that the people of the region would be the ones to suffer.

He stressed that non-military targets related to energy, economy and people's livelihoods should not be attacked, and that the security of shipping routes must be safeguarded.

Wang noted that the UAE had worked for peace even before the conflict broke out, and that a recent foreign ministers' meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to overcome the current crisis and safeguard regional security, which China appreciates.

China backs the UAE's legitimate demands to safeguard its national security and supports countries in the region in their continued efforts to resolve disputes through diplomatic means, Wang said.

China will not give up hope for peace and will continue to play a constructive role, Wang said, adding that China will send its special envoy on the Middle East issue to the region to conduct mediation efforts to help bring the region back to peace and stability.

Wang also expressed hope that the UAE will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.

Chinese FM says red line on protecting civilians in conflict must not be crossed