Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan Host a Welcoming Banquet for International Distinguished Guests Attending the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

At noon on February 5, 2022, President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to welcome international distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar, the Great Hall of the People was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, and Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, were radiant with smiles. Spring couplets, the Chinese character Fu, paper cutouts, Spring Festival paintings and Chinese knots produced a rich Chinese New Year atmosphere.

At about 11:30 a.m., international distinguished guests arrived at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People one after another and stepped up the stairs. The guard of honor lined up to welcome and salute them.

When passing through the corridor of intangible cultural heritage, international distinguished guests paused to enjoy it from time to time. A quintessential version of the Chinese "Temple Fair" reflected the warm welcome and deep friendship of the Chinese people to guests from all corners of the world.

Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan warmly waved to international distinguished guests and took a group photo with them.

With the tune of welcome "Peace - a Community with a Shared future", Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan stepped into the Golden Hall with the distinguished guests.

The red carpet was lined with flags from different countries. The Golden Hall was decorated with flowers and beautifully lit in rich colors. The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 theme flower bed was exquisite and eye-catching, with "Snowy Flying Apsaras", "Snow Dragon" and "Snow Ruyi" scattered across the silvery jungle and the green expanse of the plains, showing a beautiful Chinese painting. In the center of the flower bed, the emblem of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 showed that all countries are together for a shared future.

The banquet began, and Xi Jinping delivered remarks.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi Jinping first extended a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests traveling to China and attending the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, and sincerely thanked all governments, peoples and international organizations that care about and support the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Xi Jinping pointed out, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 officially opened at China's National Stadium last night. After 14 years, the Olympic cauldron has been lit once again in Beijing, making the city the world's first to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Committed to organizing a green, inclusive, open and clean Games, China has made every effort to counter the impact of COVID-19, earnestly fulfilled its solemn pledge to the international community, and ensured the smooth opening of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 as scheduled. By preparing for and organizing the Olympic Winter Games and promoting Olympic winter sport, China has popularized winter sport among the ordinary people, achieved the goal of engaging 300 million Chinese in sport on snow and ice, and made new contributions to the cause of Olympism worldwide.

Xi Jinping stressed, the Olympic Movement has carried humanity's aspirations for peace, solidarity and progress. We shall keep in mind the original aspiration of the Olympic Movement and jointly uphold world peace. We need to uphold mutual respect and equality, and work together for a world of durable peace. We shall promote the spirit of the Olympic Movement and meet the common challenges facing the international community through solidarity. We need to practice true multilateralism, and work together to build an international family of harmony and cooperation. We shall act on the purpose of the Olympic Movement and continuously pursue human progress. We need to stay true to humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi Jinping pointed out, China has just entered the Year of the Tiger according to the lunar calendar. Tiger is a symbol of strength, courage and fearlessness. I wish all Olympic athletes excellent performance with the strength of the tiger. I am confident that with the joint efforts of us all, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will surely go down in history as a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Games.

President Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee and UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks respectively. On behalf of international distinguished guests, they expressed heartfelt thanks to President Xi Jinping for his hospitality and extended congratulations on the complete success of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. They said, we will never forget the splendid, extraordinary and marvelous opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 last night. The Chinese people are well known for their efficiency, determination and vitality, which has been proved by fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and hosting the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. China has achieved the goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sport ahead of schedule, which will permanently change the landscape of winter sport in the world and benefit both China and the world. Respecting rules, respecting each other and uniting the world through peaceful and healthy competition is the mission of the Olympic Movement and should be the goal of all countries in the world. Today's world is facing many challenges, and it needs solidarity and cooperation all the more. We hope that the international community will take the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 as an opportunity to transcend differences and work together to build a better future.

The banquet was held in a festive and amicable atmosphere. In the end, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan waved off international distinguished guests with the tune of "Together for a Shared Future".

Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang, Sun Chunlan, Yang Jiechi, Cai Qi, Wang Yi and others were present at the banquet.