Chinese President Xi to attend Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony

[ChineseTiger1986]

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Russia's Sochi from Feb. 6 to 8 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Monday.

Chinese President Xi to attend Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

[Tractor]

Sochi seems the only place warm in Russia which Putin must show off.

 

[OrionHunter]

This is news? Ok, so he's going. What's the big deal? Is it so earth-shattering that a separate thread needs to be opened for this? Jeeez!

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

This is news? Ok, so he's going. What's the big deal? Is it so earth-shattering that a separate thread needs to be opened for this? Jeeez!

Just like GWB attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics.

 

[JSCh]

Normally it would not be a big deal, but given the politicizing of the event by US, Germany and other western countries' snubs and boycott, the gesture would now have political meaning.

Moreover, Chinese president do not normally attend opening ceremony of oversea sport event. In fact, this is the first time ever Chinese president attending oversea opening ceremony. If he did not go and he send someone else instead, I am sure Russia would have understand, but he choose to go, and that has meaning.

Olympics-Chinese president gives Putin Sochi boost - Yahoo Sports

Olympics-Chinese president gives Putin Sochi boost

January 20, 2014 4:14 AM

* Xi to become first Chinese leader at overseas opening ceremony

* Attendance a boost for Putin after Obama and Gauck snubs (Recasts, adds Chinese Foreign Ministry comment)

BEIJING, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi, China said on Monday, in a show of support for President Vladimir Putin, who has staked his political prestige on the success of the Games.

China's Foreign Ministry said that Xi would be in Russia from Feb. 6-8 for the opening ceremony.

Xi's decision to attend is a positive development for Putin, after U.S. President Barack Obama and his German counterpart Joachim Gauck both said they would not travel to Russia for the Games.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said this was the first time a Chinese leader had attended such a major sporting event overseas, and was a sign of the country's close ties with Russia.

"Mutual support is an important feature of China and Russia's strategic cooperation," Hong said, adding that Putin had attended the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"This shows the close friendship between the two leaders. We hope that Russia can successfully hold this Winter Olympics," he added.

To ease fears over possible breaches of security, Putin has ordered safety measures beefed up nationwide after 34 people were killed last month in bombings in Volgograd, another city in southern Russia.

About 37,000 Russian personnel are providing security in the Sochi area.

Russia's human rights record has also come under close scrutiny with Finland's Sports Minister Paavo Arhinmaki boycotting the opening ceremony over the country's "limitations in the freedom of speech or repressing of sexual minorities".

The Sochi Games are the 22nd Winter Olympics and will run from Feb. 7-23. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Hui Li; Editing by John O'Brien)

Related Stories

• Olympics-China has 'complete faith' in Sochi security Reuters
• Japan PM may attend Sochi Games, China says no plans to meet Xi Reuters
• Putin eases curbs on protests in Sochi for Olympics Reuters
• Swedish minister snubs Sochi opening ceremony The Associated Press
• Olympics-Finnish minister to boycott Sochi opening ceremony Reuters

 

[Sergi]

Twist in plot.
Chinese president get assassinated in Sochi by terrorists.
Terrorists found to be of Pakistani non state actors.

Just kidding ignore me

 

[Hypersonicmissiles]

This is news? Ok, so he's going. What's the big deal? Is it so earth-shattering that a separate thread needs to be opened for this? Jeeez!

It is huge news.

This is the president of China, a veto power member of the UNSC and the 2nd largest economy.

Not some Indian hack.

 

[haidian]

This is news? Ok, so he's going. What's the big deal? Is it so earth-shattering that a separate thread needs to be opened for this? Jeeez!

Will India send athletes and delegation to the Olympics?

 

[OrionHunter]

It is huge news.

This is the president of China, a veto power member of the UNSC and the 2nd largest economy.

Not some Indian hack.

If not an Indian hack, then he must be a Chinese hack.....

I ain't impressed one bit. Just because he has a veto power in the lame duck UNSC doesn't mean he's some kind of a superior human being or a superman of sorts.

Yours is an epic fail argument!

Next.

 

[JSCh]

Xi is the head of state of People Republic of China. The world most populous nation and second largest economy.

China specifically change their diplomatic tradition to support Russian and Putin against the hypocrisy and double standard of the West.

I am wondering.. where is India? Not that it really matter.

 

[haidian]

World leaders have a long tradition of gathering at the Olympics,that' s very common,maybe India never goes to the Olympics

Chinese President Hu Jintao walks with US President George W. Bush and other world leaders and dignitaries before a welcome banquet at the Great Hall of People on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. Some 80 leaders from around the world have been invited to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony which is held on August 8 in China's capital Beijing.

 

[shuttler]

Are the Ruskie's "allies" like india invited for the opening ceremony even though the indians are banned from all Olympic events?

 

[Hypersonicmissiles]

Are the Ruskie's "allies" like india invited for the opening ceremony even though the indians are banned from all Olympic events?

Whether the Indian leaders go to Sochi or not is irrelevant and won't even make headlines because India is an irrelevant country geopolitically.

When big western countries' leaders said they won't go, it made global headlines and discussions and when president Xi said he will go, it made global headlines and discussions. No one gives a rats arse whether the Indian leader goes or not.

Countries that matter are the big boys like China, US, UK, France and Germany.

 

[shuttler]

Whether the Indian leaders go to Sochi or not is irrelevant and won't even make headlines because India is an irrelevant country geopolitically.

When big western countries' leaders said they won't go, it made global headlines and discussions and when president Xi said he will go, it made global headlines and discussions. No one gives a rats arse whether the Indian leader goes or not.

Countries that matter are the big boys like China, US, UK, France and Germany.

I guess Putin should have sent out an invitation to india regardless of how poorly the indians are doing in many aspects including the Olympics. india is Russia's biggest customer in arms sales and it is a good cow to draw milk from.

In fact we are average in winter Olympics although we have just particpated in only10 times in the Games history, we are lagging behind the powerhouses like Russia, Germany, USA, Canada and the Nordic countries like Norway and Sweden

 

[xunzi]

We're here to support our friend, Russia. That's all.