Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday replied to letters from Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards and Steilacoom Mayor Dick Muri, respectively.

The two mayors from the U.S. state of Washington recently sent individual letters to Xi, extending New Year greetings to him and the Chinese people and wishing the Beijing Winter Olympic Games a success.

Noting that the Beijing Winter Olympics is a happy event for the Chinese people and a great event for the international Olympic cause, Xi said that China will deliver a "simple, safe and splendid" Winter Olympic Games with the support of the Chinese people and the international community. 

The Games will practice the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together," bringing people of all countries together for a shared future, he said. 

The president also extended greetings to the citizens of the two cities. 

In her letter to Xi, Mayor Woodards said that against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is fortunate to have a responsible and well-organized country like China to host a safe, healthy and successful Winter Olympics. 

The citizens of Tacoma will be watching the Beijing Winter Olympics, cheering for the athletes and Beijing, she added. 

Mayor Muri said that the 6,700 residents of Steilacoom look forward to watching the athletes on television. 

The two mayors also wished for peace, friendship and unity in the Year of the Tiger, which runs from February 1, 2022, to January 21, 2023, according to the Chinese Zodiac.