On December 19, the 2nd World Ice and Snow Economy of Cold Regions Conference officially opened at the Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City. Hu Yuting, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Governor of Jilin Province, attended the opening ceremony, where he delivered a speech and announced the opening. Li Jing, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, also gave a speech. Yu Zaiqing, IOC Member and Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, read a congratulatory letter from IOC President Thomas Bach, and Ulf Hausbrandt, Minister of the Austrian Embassy in China, delivered remarks.

 

On behalf of the CPC Jilin Provincial Committee and Jilin Provincial People's Government, Hu Yuting first welcomed the guests and thanked all friends from various sectors for their concern and support for the revitalization and development of Jilin. He said that the ice and snow economy is a crucial engine for the economic development of cold regions. This conference, themed "Prosper the Ice and Snow Economy and Join Hands for a Win-Win Future", aims to establish new international communication platforms, innovate new carriers of industry cooperation, and explore new scenarios for ice and snow consumption, which is of significant importance in stimulating the vitality of the ice and snow economy of cold regions. Jilin is blessed with unique ice and snow resources and magnificent ice and snow landscapes, nurturing a wealth of winter sports talent and a rich ice and snow culture that has been passed down through generations. It is a paradise for winter sports and a popular destination for ice and snow tourism. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has visited Jilin three times and placed great expectations on the ice and snow economy. Keeping Xi's instructions in mind, the province has been committed to facilitating the transformation from "ice and snow resources" to "invaluable assets" and speeding up the construction of a strong ice and snow province. With a high-quality product matrix, we are promoting the leapfrog development of ice and snow tourism. Relying on the unique advantages of "powder snow, forests, rime, and hot springs" and the brand matrix of "Changbai Mountain, A Wonderland of Snow", we welcome domestic and international tourists with open arms. With world-class ski resort resources, we are leading a new trend in China's winter sports. Boasting the longest ski slopes in the country, the largest number of aerial cableways nationwide, and five national-level ski resorts, we warmly welcome skiing enthusiasts. On the strength of a solid industrial foundation, we are building a modern ice and snow industry system and creating an "Eastern Snow Economic Zone and Western Ice Economic Zone" development pattern centered on Changbai Mountain and Chagan Lake, which will extend dominant industries into the ice and snow industry, enrich consumer forms, expand consumption scenarios, and propel Jilin's ice and snow industry to a period of rapid growth. It is hoped that visionary individuals will strengthen practical cooperation, share development opportunities, actively participate in the "Global Promotion Plan for Jilin Ice and Snow", and use ice and snow as a medium to foster exchanges. Together, we can become a bridge for the "Belt and Road" Initiative, transforming "cold resources" into "hot industries" and turning "small snowflakes" into "great development". We welcome people from all over the world to experience Jilin's ice and snow. With our heartfelt services, we will do our best to ensure that visitors come with excitement and leave with satisfaction.

 

Before the opening ceremony, Hu Yuting met with Ren Hongbin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and other important domestic and international guests attending the conference. After giving a brief introduction to Jilin Province, Hu Yuting noted that as a major ice and snow province, Jilin has a solid foundation, clear advantages, and great potential for developing the ice and snow economy. Currently, following General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on the development of the ice and snow economy, the entire province is further exploring ice and snow advantages, accelerating the establishment of a modern ice and snow industry system, and striving to create a world-class ice and snow brand and tourism destination. We are willing to share development opportunities with friends from around the world, with a focus on refining ice and snow tourism, developing ice and snow equipment, promoting ice and snow consumption, prospering ice and snow culture, and popularizing winter sports, among others. We hope to explore new opportunities for the development of the ice and snow industry together by promoting deeper cooperation, complementary advantages, mutual learning, and win-win outcomes. Ren Hongbin and other guests expressed confidence in the prospects of Jilin's ice and snow economy and pledged to continue deepening cooperation with the province and increase publicity efforts to attract more visitors to experience the charm of Jilin's ice and snow.