Moving toward a shared future with Winter Olympics

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, which will conclude on Sunday, have not only been "safe, simple and splendid" but also given China an opportunity to make the motto "Together for a Shared Future" a reality.

Despite the International Olympic Committee adding "Together" to the Olympic motto of "Higher, Faster, Stronger", some Western countries tried to politicize and disrupt the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, in the true spirit of sports, China has focused on hosting a successful Winter Games.

With the attendance of about 170 dignitaries from nearly 70 countries, regions and international organizations, including more than 30 heads of state and government, speakers of parliament and members of royal families, and the participation of nearly 3,000 athletes from about 90 countries and regions, the 2022 Winter Olympics is one of the largest in scale with the highest number of events.

Foreign guests and athletes have not only enjoyed the Games, but also promoted global communication and interaction among countries and cultures.

The world needed a successful and salient Winter Olympics to send a clear message that people, no matter which country, ethnicity and religion they belong to, can rise above their differences to work together and achieve remarkable results, Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, said earlier this month.

The Winter Olympics has highlighted the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, which are essential to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Besides, the international community is opposed to the politicization of sports. The fact that some countries sent delegations to the Winter Olympics for the first time shows the Games are supported by the international community. It also shows the "diplomatic boycott" call the United States and some other Western countries gave was an exercise in futility.

The Games have also provided a chance for China and Russia to deepen cooperation in key fields, and enabled the presidents of the two countries to have the first one-on-one meeting in two years, after which the two countries issued a joint statement on international relations in the new era and global sustainable development.

Presenting a common position on democracy, development, security and the world order, the two sides vowed to make more contributions to global governance.

The Chinese top leader also held several high-level meetings with foreign leaders who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Games despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indeed, the Games have given China the chance to exchange views with other countries and reach consensuses on boosting the global fight against the pandemic and strengthening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative framework to promote green development and the digital economy, and combat terrorism and organized crimes.

Until recently, sports used to be a medium to improve relations between countries and enhance mutual understanding. For example, "ping-pong diplomacy" helped pave the way for the establishment of Sino-US diplomatic relations and China's eventual reintegration into the international community.

In spite of the Joe Biden administration's efforts to derail the Beijing Winter Olympics, Chinese people have not forgotten their friendship with the American people. In reply to a letter from the chairman of the Helen Foster Snow Foundation, the Chinese president said the Chinese people will never forget the contributions made by international friends, including Helen Snow and her husband Edgar Snow, to China's revolution and construction, as well as their friendship with the Chinese people.

Accordingly, China will hold a series of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of former US president Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972 which changed the course of history.

The Summer and Winter Olympics will continue to promote sports and peaceful communication. Hopefully, all countries and regions will seize the opportunity to enhance mutual understanding, deepen mutual trust and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The author is a researcher at the China Center for Contemporary World Studies. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.