China Praises South Korea's Beijing Olympics Stance as "Highly Appreciated... Family-like Spirit"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 8th, the Chinese government said it "highly appreciates" the South Korean government's stance on the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was asked to comment on the South Korean government's position during a regular briefing that day. He said, "South Korea was the host country of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and will host the 2024 Gangwon-do Youth Winter Olympics. China and South Korea have consistently supported the Olympics hosted by each other."

He added, "(Mutual support) is an expression of the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries and the spirit of the Olympic family." Earlier, Choi Young-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on the United States' official diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics during a regular briefing on the 7th, saying, "We hope that the Olympics, which follow the 2018 Pyeongchang, 2021 Tokyo, and 2022 Beijing Games, will contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world, as well as inter-Korean relations."

Spokesperson Choi said, "Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no comments on the diplomatic decisions of other governments. However, our government has supported the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics," expressing this stance.