Xi's special envoy: Sports help carry Chinese dreams

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Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visited the Chinese team participating in the 18th Asian Games on Sunday.

She said the Games are a dry run for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Sun also said President Xi emphasized that sports help carry the Chinese people's dreams of prosperity, and rejuvenate the Chinese nation.

She hopes the Chinese athletes can present a great image of China to the world.

Sun Chunlan also met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, saying ties between the two countries have increased significantly, and that China wants to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in various areas.

She also pointed out that President Xi Jinping said the two sides need to do more to safeguard the global free trade system and deepen win-win cooperation.

President Widodo stressed that Jakarta attaches great importance to its ties with Beijing, and is confident in their future development.

The special envoy then met with Indonesian Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, expressing her condolences about the earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok.

She noted that this year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership, and the two nations should push forward mutually beneficial and practical cooperation in all respects.

Puan Maharani responded that Indonesia expects to strengthen people-to-people exchanges in areas of education, technology, culture and health.

The Chinese official attended the Games' opening ceremony on Saturday evening.

(Cover: Chinese athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2018 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, August 18, 2018. /VCG Photo)