Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

The 9th Asian Winter Games (AWG) kicked off in China's "ice city" of Harbin on Friday, with international officials and athletes hailing the spectacular opening ceremony as a resounding success, featuring a captivating torch-lighting ceremony and dazzling performances that left spectators in awe.

The opening ceremony reached its climax when four torchbearers - two-time Olympic champion and short track speed skater Yang Yang, China's first male Winter Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skier Han Xiaopeng, Olympic race walk champion Wang Zhen, and Sochi Winter Olympics speed skating champion Zhang Hong - joined by children holding ice lanterns, lit the lilac-shaped cauldron at the opening ceremony's sub-venue of the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

"I'm very impressed with the show. It's nice that they could bring us all the way out here from the mountains. But I wasn't expecting the ice skaters to come out of nowhere. We were all looking at the floor and we were wondering how they were doing it. You know, that was pretty cool," said a Singaporean athlete.

"The ceremony was amazing, every part of it, every part of the show, it was amazing. Like I can't even pick one, which one was my favorite because everything was amazing," said a Kyrgyzstan athlete.

"It's a great environment and we are happy to be here as a part of the Asian Winter Games 2025. And it's nice [organization], even we have come from Yabuli because of good transportation to make the commute for the athletes. I think the show is very nice. And especially the background of the stage is impressive," said Taratip Chantawat, deputy head of the Thai delegation.

Framed by children's dreams of inspiration, pursuit, and fulfillment, the gala performance, featuring chapters titled "Blazing Ice and Snow," "Passion in Motion" and "Everlasting Friendship," vividly portrayed hope and resilience.

The performance opened with ice harvesters and ballet dancers symbolizing harmony with nature, while the Games' emblem "Breakthrough" was illuminated. It then showcased the thrill of winter sports and a joyful ice carnival, concluding with vibrant Asian dances and a unifying "Asian balcony concert."

Running from February 7 to 14, the Harbin Games, with the slogan "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," represents another major international winter sports event hosted by China following the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. It also marks the country's third time hosting the AWG, following Harbin 1996 and Changchun 2007.

A record 34 countries and regions are competing in Harbin 2025, surpassing the previous high set at the 8th AWG in Sapporo, Japan in 2017.

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

The China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum is expected to bring new vitality to the global development and human civilization, said Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing.

Petro, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum on Wednesday, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview, while giving a special mention of the importance of the forum as a platform to reshape multilateralism.

"This Forum, held here in China, comes at a pivotal moment in history. And that's precisely what makes it so significant. It is taking place at a time when multilateralism is in urgent need of reshaping. There are some powers who believe they can rule the world through intimidation and shows of force. But with China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries standing together, we must make them understand: history is full of hard lessons. Those who once flexed their military might did not prevail. They may have enjoyed momentary success in the past, but this time, history will not repeat itself," he said.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum's operation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum that under the careful cultivation of both sides over the past 10 years, the China-CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree.

Petro hailed the relations between China and LAC countries over the past decade, saying that the cooperation is expected to energize the global development and human civilization.

"Yes, exactly, a tree. A strong and thriving tree, with deep and well-developed roots firmly anchored in the earth. There's no doubt that over the past ten years, trade in physical goods between China and LAC countries has grown substantially. China is involved in building the Bogota metro project. China is also constructing a port in Peru, and many other large-scale infrastructure projects are being advanced through Chinese investment and engineering expertise. When we link the cultural and civilizational threads of China and LAC countries, it's as if we are nurturing a living tree, one that grows tall toward the sky and promises to bring new vitality to the human civilization," he said.

China-CELAC Forum brings new vitality to global development: Colombian president