Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the 15th National Games open in Guangzhou City of south China's Guangdong Province on Sunday evening.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan attended the opening ceremony of China's largest multi-sport event.

The Games, scheduled from Nov 9 to 21, is co-hosted by Guangdong Province and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, marking the first time the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has co-hosted the country's premier multi-sport event.

Reflecting this, the performances at the opening ceremony unfolded in three parts, with artists from the Chinese mainland and the two special administrative regions sharing the stage.

The 15th National Games feature 34 sports with 419 events in the competitive program, and 23 sports with 166 events in the mass participation program.

Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

Xi declares opening of 15th National Games

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' separatist moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility are unpopular and doomed to fail, said Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing on Wednesday.

Zhang made the comments at a regular press conference in response to a media query about recent inappropriate remarks by Chiu Chui-cheng, head of the so-called "mainland affairs council", regarding the Chinese mainland's policy of advancing high-quality cross-Strait integrated development".

"Our fellow Taiwan compatriots are our kith and kin. Over the years, acting on the principle that 'people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all of the same family', we have actively promoted cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepened the integrated development across various fields, and made steady progress in implementing policies that provide equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots. These efforts have continuously yielded new results, fully demonstrating our goodwill in seeking benefits for Taiwan compatriots and our sincerity in advancing the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations. Such endeavors have been met with strong support and wide acclaim from our Taiwan compatriots. Driven by its separatist pursuit of 'Taiwan secession', the DPP authorities are deeply fearful of closer ties between people across the Strait. They have deliberately fanned the flames of confrontation and antagonism, while resorting to slander and obstruction against anything that helps develop cross-Strait relations and benefits people on both sides. Such moves are deeply unpopular and are bound to fail," she said.

DPP's moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility unpopular, doomed to fail: spokeswoman