In his remarks at the welcoming banquet of the opening ceremony of the ninth Asian Winter Games on Friday, President Xi Jinping pointed out that, "From the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing to the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, the passion in China for ice and snow sports has swept across the nation".

China has effectively used such grand events as a catalyst to elevate the nation's ice and snow sports culture, and the country has realized its ambitious goal of engaging 300 million people in winter sports.

By April 2024, following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, around 313 million people — over 22 percent of China's population — had actively participated in ice and snow activities. By the end of 2023, the number of winter sports venues in China had reached 2,847, a 16.1 percent year-on-year increase, with new facilities emerging even in the southern regions.

The Asian Winter Games held in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, highlights China's growing global status in winter sports, which is supported by and further boosts the fast development of its ice and snow economy.

China's vision for its winter sports always includes a comprehensive winter sports economy encompassing equipment manufacturing, tourism and cultural industries. China's ice and snow economy is projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) in 2025.

China's winter sports equipment industry is also expanding, bolstered by advancements in 5G, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. The country now produces a full range of 15 ice and snow equipment categories, with innovations such as smart ski insoles, heated snow boots, and virtual reality skiing simulators.

The ultimate goal is to improve people's fitness. The development of the ice and snow economy has been and will continue to be an essential part of the efforts to realize a healthy China.

The theme of the Games — "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia" — embodies the shared aspiration and desire of the Asian people for peace, development and friendship, which sports help foster.

-AGENCIES