President Xi meets Prince Albert II of Monaco

NANJING, China - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday met with Prince Albert II of Monaco in Nanjing who was here to attend the opening ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games.

Xi expressed warm welcome to Prince Albert II for attending the opening ceremony and appreciation to his efforts in promoting the development of international Olympic movement and his support to the Beijing Olympics and the Nanjing Youth Olympics as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Albert II said China's host of the Youth Olympics shows once again China's importance and respect to the international Olympic spirit. He spoke highly of last night's performance of the opening ceremony and wished the Nanjing Youth Olympics success.

Hailing the development of China-Monaco ties and bilateral cooperation, Xi said China has always advanced that all countries, no matter big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, are all equal members of the international community and shall deal with each other with mutual respect and equality.

China would like to take the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with the southern European country in 2015 to deepen political mutual trust, promote cooperation in various areas, facilitate personnel exchanges, strengthen cultural exchanges and continue to support each other in multilateral occasions so as to lift China-Monaco ties to a new level, said Xi.

Stressing that China is in the period of fast development of a new path of industrialization, IT technology, urbanization and modern agriculture, Xi said China is committed to promoting scientific and sustainable development.

China pays more attention to establish the awareness of conservation and plan cities and towns in a scientific way in order to show respect to nature, said Xi.

Saying Monaco has its own concept of city development with respect to nature and history, he called on China and Monaco to enhance cooperation on green economy, environmental protection, financial services and sustainable development.

Albert II said Monaco and China have profound traditional friendship. Monaco appreciated China's path of sustainable development, and would like to strengthen cooperation with China on areas such as telecommunication, environment and climate change,

and promote tourism and personnel and cultural exchanges, he said.

He also called for measures to encourage more Monacan youth to learn Chinese and Chinese culture in the hope of enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The Youth Olympics, a sporting event tailor-made for youth of the world, was proposed by former IOC President Jacques Rogge. Singapore held the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. The second Summer Youth Olympics run from Aug. 16 to Aug. 28 in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.