Chinese president meets Olympic chief Bach

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach here on Tuesday.

Xi congratulated Bach on being elected as ninth IOC president and thanked Bach and IOC's support and guidance of China's sports and Olympic movement, especially of Beijing Olympic Games and Nanjing Youth Olympics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during a meeting in Beijing, Nov 19. [Photo/Xinhua]

In the meeting, Xi lauded the positive role IOC has played in boosting the development of sports and promoting world peace and development.

Xi said sports can improve people's health and promote understanding and friendship among people across the world.

The Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese, Xi said.

Xi cited the Chinese women's volleyball team's success of winning the world championships in the 1980s, shortly after the country's introduction of the reform and opening-up initiative, stressing the Chinese should carry forward the spirit of the Chinese women's volleyball team.

Xi reviewed how the country successfully hosted international sports games in recent years, including the Beijing Olympic Games, the Beijing Paralympics and the Guangzhou Asian Games, saying China will make efforts to improve people's health, develop mass sports and competitive sports and become a leader in sports.

As the 2nd Youth Olympic Games will take place in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, next August, Xi said the preparation is under way and China will honor its commitment and make the Games a success.

As Beijing and the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou are bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Xi said China would like to take this as an opportunity to promote Olympics and winter sports.

Bach thanked the Chinese government for its support to international Olympics and hailed China's contribution to the world sports.

Bach said China is the first destination of his visit since he took the office of the IOC president, which he said signified IOC's willingness to work more closely with China.

Bach said the IOC is satisfied with the preparation for the 2nd Youth Olympics and believed it will be a success.

On Beijing and Zhangjiakou's bid for the Winter Olympics, Bash wished China good luck.

In a ceremony following the meeting, Bach awarded the Chinese president the Olympic Order in Gold, the highest award of the Olympic movement, recognizing Xi's contribution to the world sports and Olympics.

Xi appreciated the IOC's support to China and said the Chinese government will, as always, support the IOC development and make more contribution to the Olympics.