Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

China welcomes South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games next month, said spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that South Korea's active support for the Winter Olympics is in accordance with the Olympic spirit and is the embodiment of China-South Korea friendship. 

Park will visit China next month and attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Yonhap quoted the South Korean National Assembly as saying on Tuesday.

He is scheduled to visit Beijing from February 3 to 6 at the invitation of China, according to Yonhap.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China welcomes Park's visit. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, said Zhao, noting that South Korea, as the host of the last Winter Olympics, is actively supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Zhao said it is in accordance with the Olympic spirit and it shows the strong friendship between China and South Korea. He noted that China is willing to meet South Korea half way to practice more united Olympic spirit and strengthen mutual cooperation and exchanges. 

Yonhap also reported that South Korea announced Tuesday it will have 63 athletes compete in six sports during the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.

It will be the country's third-largest athletic delegation to the Winter Games, behind 146 athletes for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on home soil and 71 athletes for the 2014 event in Sochi, Russia.