On January 14th, The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and People’s Government of Hebei Province co-hosted “Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games—Forum on Cooperation among Friendship Cities for Common Development” through online and offline channels. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video message. Vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 10thNational People’s Congress, President of the China-ASEAN Association Gu Xiulian delivered a keynote speech. Mayor of Beijing, Executive Chairman of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Chen Jining and Acting Governor of Hebei Province, Executive Chairman of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Wang Zhengpu attended the forum and delivered speeches.

The forum themed on “Winter Olympics in Beijing Greater Cooperation for Development”. Some 200 representatives from 72 sister cities in 23 countries and four continents—Asia, Africa, Europe and South America—participated the forum through online and offline channels. All of the representatives expressed their wishes and support for Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and gave advice on international cooperation among friendship cities, aiming to carry forward the Olympic Spirit through tangible actions.

Representatives of sister cities remarked as follows:

Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo, Japan

Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo, Japan, remarked that Beijing and Tokyo have developed exchanges and cooperation in many fields since the onset of friendship between the two cities. She also expressed her particular gratitude to all parties including Beijing for their support for hosting the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the face of COVID-19, which was in line with the vision of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games—“United by Emotion”—and fully reflected the charm of sports. Now, 21 days before Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is opened, Koike sincerely wishes that the Games can be a celebration of peace for all and the legacy of the Games, may it be tangible or not, will further facilitate the development and prosperity of Beijing.

Oh Se-hoon, mayor of Seoul, Korea

Oh Se-hoon, mayor of Seoul, Korea, remarked that although COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to the world over the past two years, the pandemic has also created opportunities for the advancements of human civilisation. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Seoul has been actively building itself into a smart city. Actions, such as promoting pilotless automobiles, launching online education platforms and developing health monitoring APPs on smart phones, have been taken to better serve citizens. Seoul hopes to join hands with Beijing and Hebei to enhance the exchanges and cooperation in term of developing smart cities. At last, Oh Se-hoon wishes Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games a great success!

Kostas Bakoyannis,Mayor of Athens, Greece

Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens, Greece, congratulated Beijing no being the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics, and exemplifying through solid efforts a city’s contribution to carrying forward the Olympic Spirit.  He believes the coming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is going to be a wonderful example and hearten and encourage people around the world. The Olympics is a valuable opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between cities, peoples and cultures. He believes that Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will help different cities reach more consensus among each other and promote peoples’ understanding of each other.

Alessandro, municipal commissioner of Rome, Italy, in charge of large-scale activities, sports and tourism

Alessandro, municipal commissioner of Rome, Italy, who is in charge of large-scale activities, sports and tourism, remarked that the exchanges between the two cities have been frequent and fruitful since the onset of friendship Beijing and Rome. Just like Beijing, Rome once hosted Summer Olympic Games—the 1960 Summer Olympics. The Olympics was a great opportunity for Rome to upgrade the city and improve its appearance. Similarly, we all stand witness to Beijing’s progress in improving air quality and urban infrastructure since 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Alessandro holds the belief that Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide new opportunities for exchanges between peoples and Beijing and its friendship cities. He also wished Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games a great success.

Anja Margetić, Deputy Mayor of the City of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Anja Margetić, Deputy Mayor of the City of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, extended congratulations on the smooth preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. She wishes the Games a success and athletes good luck. She remarked that Olympics gives us an opportunity to go beyond ourselves, uphold the Olympic Spirit of peace, friendship and fair competition, and contribute to achieving a more lofty goal.

Serguéi Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government and the Head of the Moscow Department of Foreign Affairs and International Relations

Serguéi Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government and the Head of the Moscow Department of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, remarked that with Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games around the corner, it is heartening for us to gather here and jointly promote international cooperation. The friendship between Moscow and Beijing goes back a long way. In 2020, Beijing and Moscow celebrated 25thanniversary of the onset of our friendship, which had a positive impact on deepening the pragmatic cooperation between the two cities. Moscow made notable progresses in construction of infrastructure related to winter sports and the planning and development of winter sport industry. He hopes that this forum will further promote the exchanges between the two cities in the field of winter sports. And he also wishes Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games a remarkable success.