Xi, his wife host welcome banquet for dignitaries attending Chengdu Universiade opening ceremony

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on Friday hosted a banquet in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, to welcome the guests attending the opening ceremony of the Chengdu FISU World University Games. A lineup of international dignitaries including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana Joko Widodo, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and FISU Acting President Leonz Eder attended the banquet. Xi and Peng shook hands with all the distinguished guests, exchanged greetings and had group photos with them. A total of 50 children dressed in traditional costumes of local ethnic groups sang the song "Happy Sunrise" to express warm welcome to the guests. Proposing a toast at the beginning of the banquet, Xi extended a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests coming to China and attending the Games. "On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in the name of my wife and myself, I first would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our distinguished guests!" Xi said. Noting that the Chengdu FISU World University Games will officially open tonight, Xi said that China has committed itself to organizing a streamlined, safe and splendid games. In spite of COVID-19 and other adverse factors, China has acted vigorously to fulfill its solemn pledge for a successful World University Games and to make new contributions to the cause of international youth sports, he said. Since its inception, the World University Games has always been a celebration of youth, solidarity, and friendship, according to Xi. Xi called for bringing together young people from around the world to promote world peace and development with the power of youth, making the Chengdu Games a grand sports event that will present the charms of China, the vibe of the times and the beauty of youth, and facilitating mutual understanding among young people from around the world, so as to provide new impetus for the progress of mankind. He called on all guests to carry forward the spirit of the World University Games to stand up to global challenges in solidarity, build up positive energy across the international community, and shape a better future through cooperation. Stressing the need to deepen exchanges and mutual learning to promote harmony without uniformity in the spirit of inclusiveness, Xi called for seeing different cultures with an attitude of mutual appreciation and mutual learning, championing the common values of humanity and writing a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi added that Chengdu, a historical and cultural city, is also one of the most dynamic and happiest cities in China. He encouraged all guests to tour the city, to experience and share firsthand the multifaceted manifestations of the Chinese path to modernization. Before attending the welcoming banquet, the guests watched the demonstration of Sichuan intangible cultural heritages. The Games, also known as the Chengdu Universiade, opened on Friday evening and will last through Aug. 8. They will feature 269 events across 18 sports. __________________ ShanghaiEye focuses on producing top-quality contents. Nobody knows SHANGHAI better than us. Please subscribe to us ☻☻☻ __________________ For more stories, please click ■ What's up today in Shanghai, the most updated news of the city    • Playlist   ■ Amazing Shanghai, exploring the unknown corners of the city, learning the people, food and stories behind them    • Amazing Shanghai and China 淘宝魔都玩转中国   ■ What Chinese people's lives are like during the post COVID-19 period    • COVID-19 新冠疫情   ■ Views of foreign scholars on China and its affairs    • Voices, Let's Listen! 听她他说   ■ Foreign faces in Shanghai, people living in this city sharing their true feelings    • Playlist   ■ Mini-docs showing why China is the country it is today    • Stories & Documentary 奇闻逸事记录中国   __________________ ☎Leave us messages if you have any suggestions or questions! Thank you!