Xi's special representative to attend Paris Olympics' closing ceremony

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and State Councilor Shen Yiqin will attend the closing ceremony and other events of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris from August 9 to 11, announced the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement on Thursday.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the ministry, said in the statement that Shen will also visit Serbia from August 12 to 14 at the invitation of the government of Serbia.

China attaches great importance to the development of sports and actively participates in the international Olympic Movement, Mao said. During President Xi's visit to France in May this year, he expressed his support for France in hosting a successful Olympic Games in Paris.

Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony, and State Councilor Shen Yiqin will attend the closing ceremony of the event, both as President Xi's special representatives.

"This fully demonstrates how much China values and supports the international Olympic cause and the work of France as the Games host. China applauds the success we've already seen in the hosting of the Paris 2024 Games and wishes it a full success in the coming days," said the spokesperson.

China and Serbia are ironclad friends, and the bilateral relations have maintained robust growth under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Mao said.

In May this year, President Xi paid a successful state visit to Serbia. The two heads of state jointly announced that the two sides will build a community with a shared future in the new era, opening up a new chapter for the history of bilateral relations, the spokesperson said.

During her upcoming visit, Shen will have in-depth communication with Serbian leaders on delivering on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, explore deeper practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and help bring China-Serbia relations to a new level.

(With input from Xinhua)