The Ninth Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 is another opportunity for people in China and from abroad to deepen exchanges and enhance friendship, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Venue preparations are progressing smoothly for the Games, with test events on track, and Harbin has made the Games theme of its ongoing tourism season.
"The Ninth Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 is another major comprehensive international sports event that China hosts after the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. It's also another opportunity for people in China and from abroad to deepen exchanges and enhance friendship. Harbin is among the top winter destinations in China. We welcome friends from other countries to visit Harbin, the city of ice, watch the athletes bring out their best, enjoy winter sports, and learn about a diverse China through the charm of ice and snow," Mao said.
The 9th Asian Winter Games will be held in Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in northeast China, from Feb. 7 to 14, 2025, featuring a record 34 teams set to participate.
Spokeswoman on Harbin Asian Winter Games
Twenty-nine survivors were found in the passenger plane crash in Aktau, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) reported.
An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines with flight number J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau Airport on Wednesday with a total of 67 people on board.
According to the MES, 482 people are involved in the rescue on site, as well as 97 pieces of equipment, two aircraft and four teams of search and rescue dogs.
A group of electric power workers near the crash site were among the first batch of rescuers, who said they helped save around 15 people at the scene.
"We saw the plane crash with our own eyes and quickly packed up to head to the scene for rescue. Later, personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and hospital staff members arrived. About 10 of us went there. We brought a crane to help rescue people from the cabin," a rescuer said.
The emergency departments of Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan exchanged information via video conference.
According to Subkhonkul Rakhimov, a survivor of the crash, the plane suddenly rose rapidly and began to increase its altitude when it was about to land in Grozny. There was heavy fog at the time, and the crew tried to land the plane in Grozny three times, but all failed. An explosion occurred during the third attempt to land.
29 survivors rescued from plane crash in Kazakhstan
