Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry. Photo: CFP

It is pretty precious for mankind to build friendships together and light the torch of hope when faced with the challenges posed by the epidemic, Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday when expressing its appreciation toward Japanese Olympics volunteers' supportive messages to Chinese volunteers of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 

Signs of handwritten Chinese characters jiayou, which means "add oil" or "keep going" in English and other remarks of good wishes were held by a group of Japanese volunteers of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to show their support for the Chinese volunteers of the ongoing Beijing Winter Games, Kyodo News reported last Friday. 

According to Japanese media, some 60 Japanese volunteers and students in their 20s and 30s and some Chinese students who took part in an online communication meeting organized by the Japan-China Friendship Center on January 18 to eliminate uneasiness at the Beijing Winter Games, since it has similar challenges as the Tokyo Games, with both held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After the meeting, a 34-year-old Japanese volunteer named Tarumi Mai collected the photos of 65 participants and their messages of hope to cheer up the Chinese volunteers, hoping that the volunteers in Beijing not be crushed by hard work and use their experiences as spiritual food.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin expressed his appreciation at a press conference on Monday, saying that as the two Olympics Games held amid COVID-19, it appears pretty precious for mankind to build friendship together and light the torch of hope when faced with the challenges posed by the epidemic. 

Over the past days, we have also witnessed touching stories of athletes from many countries and regions who have forged deep friendships with Chinese volunteers and these moments of human solidarity and spirit at the Beijing Winter Olympics will remain warm and memorable in people's hearts forever, Wang said. 

Global Times