Anticipation is mounting for the ninth Asian Winter Games, as the opening ceremony is just days away in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang.
Sha Xiaolan, chief director of the opening ceremony assured fans that preparations are on track for a spectacular event on February 7.
"The overall progress has been going smoothly. Since December, we have been conducting rehearsals in our main venue, going scene by scene and program by program. This phase has already been completed successfully. We are now moving into the phase of joint rehearsals and full-element rehearsals. Our theme for the event is 'Dream of Winter, Love among Asia', along with a set of key phrases: 'Asian elegance, Chinese grandeur; Heilongjiang characteristics, Harbin charm'. Notably, iconic landmarks of Harbin, such as the Central Street, Harbin Ice and Snow World, and music square, have left a profound impression on our creative team. We will incorporate these elements into the opening ceremony," said the director.
With the Asian Winter Games just 30 days away in the renowned ice city of Harbin, test events across various disciplines have been in full swing, and organizers are reinforcing their emergency preparedness through a comprehensive system that integrates medical, meteorological, and other vital support services.
The ninth Asian Winter Games, scheduled between Feb 7 and Feb 14, are expected to see the highest participation in the event's history, with a total of 1,275 athletes from 34 countries and regions already registered.
Harbin gears for spectacular 9th Asian Winter Games opening ceremony
Indonesia's accession to BRICS is expected to significantly enhance its economic growth, said an Indonesian expert on Wednesday after the announcement of the country’s membership.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday issued a statement, hailing its full BRICS membership and emphasizing the country's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable global order through multilateral cooperation.
Its statement came after Brazil, as the BRICS chair this year, announced one day earlier the official entry of Indonesia as a full member into BRICS.
Mohammad Faisal, executive director of Indonesia’s Center of Reform on Economics, expressed optimism about the potential benefits.
"The new government has set an ambitious economic growth target of eight percent. Joining BRICS will provide a significant impetus to achieve the goal. It needs Indonesia to make extraordinary efforts, particularly in attracting investments. While Indonesia has already attracted substantial investment inflows, there is still room for further growth," he said.
Faisal said cooperation with BRICS members like China will bring more trade opportunities, foreign investments and technologies to Indonesia, promoting the sound development of the country’s domestic economic ecosystem.
He said BRICS countries can expand their cooperation into new areas through the integration and complementarity of their strengths.
"Looking ahead, the Indonesian government plans to further develop downstream industries, as well as agriculture, plant cultivation, fishery, livestock farming, and forestry. This will create more opportunities for cooperation with China, extending beyond current partnerships in infrastructure and nickel smelting to more areas," said Faisal.
Joining BRICS to help boost Indonesia's economic growth: expert
