Chinese President Xi Jinping met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and IOC Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach on Sunday afternoon at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. The two IOC leaders are in China for the opening ceremony of China's 15th National Games.

President Xi noted that the Olympic spirit is an important part of human civilization, carrying people's aspirations for a better world, and aligning closely with China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. He stressed that China has always firmly practiced, safeguarded, and promoted the Olympic spirit.

In recent years, China and the IOC have supported each other in advancing sports development and have achieved many significant results, Xi said. He recalled gatherings in Harbin for the Asian Winter Games earlier this year and in Guangzhou for the National Games, noting that these events demonstrate the strong and close partnership between China and the IOC.

China, he added, stands ready to deepen high-standard cooperation with the IOC, advance the Olympic Movement, and contribute greater wisdom and strength to global sports governance and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

President Xi emphasized that the National Games is China's largest and highest-level multi-sport event, this year co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. He described the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as one of China's most open and economically dynamic regions.

The goal, he pointed out, is to develop the GBA into a strategic underpinning for China's new development paradigm, a demonstration area for high-quality development and a pacesetter for Chinese modernization.

He expressed confidence that this year's National Games will not only showcase new sporting achievements but also reflect the remarkable progress of Chinese modernization in the GBA.

IOC President Coventry and Honorary President for Life Bach expressed delight at being in Guangzhou to witness the tremendous dynamism and accomplishments of Chinese modernization in the GBA.

They praised China's active commitment to the Olympic spirit and its significant contribution to the Olympic Movement.

The IOC, they said, is grateful for China's long-standing support and looks forward to strengthening cooperation to promote the Olympic spirit globally, enhance solidarity among peoples and advance world peace.

They also expressed confidence that the upcoming National Games will be a splendid and successful event that spurs new progress in China's sports development.