Remarks at the Welcome Banquet for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
(February 5, 2022)
At noon on February 5, President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a banquet at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to welcome international distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. This is Xi Jinping’s speech at the banquet.
Dear President Bach,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies, gentlemen and friends:
ใใOn the festive days of the Chinese people celebrating the Chinese New Year, I am very happy to meet with old and new friends in Beijing. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, on behalf of my wife, and in my own name, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the guests who came to China to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics! I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all governments, peoples and international organizations who care about and support the Beijing Winter Olympics! I would also like to express my special thanks to all the friends here who have overcome the difficulties and inconveniences caused by the new crown pneumonia epidemic and traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to cheer for the Winter Olympics and cheer for China.
ใใLast night, the Beijing Winter Olympics officially opened at the National Stadium. After a lapse of 14 years, the Olympic flame was ignited in Beijing again, and Beijing became the world’s first “Double Olympic City”. Upholding the concept of green, shared, open and clean Olympics, China has made every effort to overcome the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, earnestly fulfilled its solemn commitment to the international community, and ensured that the Beijing Winter Olympics will be held as scheduled.
ใใLet more people participate in ice and snow sports, which is the meaning of the Olympic movement. By organizing the Winter Olympics and promoting the Winter Olympics, China has brought ice and snow sports into the homes of ordinary people, achieved the goal of driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports, and made new contributions to the global Olympic cause.
ใใLadies, gentlemen, friends!
ใใSince ancient times, the Olympic Movement has carried mankind’s beautiful pursuit of peace, unity and progress.
ใใโโWe should keep in mind the original intention of the Olympic Movement and jointly safeguard world peace. The Olympic Movement was born for peace and thrives on peace. In December last year, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution, calling for the promotion of peace through sports, representing the common aspiration of the international community. We should adhere to mutual respect, equal treatment, dialogue and consultation, and strive to resolve differences, eliminate conflicts, and jointly build a world of lasting peace.
ใใโโWe should carry forward the spirit of the Olympic Movement and unite to meet the common challenges of the international community. The new crown pneumonia epidemic is still raging, and global problems such as climate change and terrorism are emerging one after another. The international community should be “more united”. Countries can only respond effectively if they unite and cooperate to look to the future together. It is necessary to practice genuine multilateralism, maintain the international system with the United Nations at its core, maintain the international order based on international law, and jointly build an international family of harmonious cooperation.
ใใโโWe should practice the purpose of the Olympic Movement and continue to promote the cause of human progress. The goal of the Olympic Movement is to achieve the all-round development of human beings. We must follow the trend of the times, adhere to the common values โโof peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, promote exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.
ใใLadies, gentlemen, friends!
ใใ”The sound of firecrackers kills one year old, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu.” China has just ushered in the Year of the Tiger in the lunar calendar. The tiger symbolizes strength, bravery, and fearlessness. I wish the Olympic athletes are full of strength and create great achievements like the tiger. I believe that with the joint efforts of everyone, the Beijing Winter Olympics will surely go down in history as a simple, safe and exciting Olympic event.
ใใFinally, I propose that everyone toast together,
ใใfor the vigorous development of the International Olympic Movement,
ใใFor the noble cause of human peace and development,
ใใFor the health of guests and their families,
ใใcheers!
