On the afternoon of September 22, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the West Lake State Guesthouse in Hangzhou with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach who is in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games.

Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation to Thomas Bach and the IOC for their longstanding support for the development of Olympic Movement and sports in China. Xi Jinping pointed out that when faced with the stern challenges posed by the combined forces of profound changes and the pandemic both unseen in a century, the IOC has upheld the original aspiration of the Olympic Movement, carried forward the Olympic spirit, acted on the purpose of the Olympic Movement, opposed the politicization of sports, further advanced the Olympic Movement against all odds, and played a unique and important role in maintaining world peace and development and promoting humanity's solidarity and progress.

Xi Jinping stressed that China has always attached great importance to the development of sports, actively participated in international Olympic affairs, and acted on the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together". Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, China presented the world with a streamlined, safe and splendid Olympic Winter Games last year, making Beijing the world's first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. China will never halt its steps in spreading the Olympic spirit and is willing and ready to work with the IOC to uphold the principle of non-politicization of sports, and make full use of the legacy of the Beijing Olympic Games, to make new and greater contributions to the Olympic Movement and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Currently, all preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games are in place. The Chinese government and people are fully confident of delivering a great sports event that is distinctly Chinese, uniquely Asian and spectacular, which will make new contributions to promoting the development of the Olympic Movement and the unity and friendship among the Asian people.

Thomas Bach expressed the sincere appreciation and pleasant surprise he felt each time he came to China, and commended the Chinese government for attaching great importance to the development of sports and making important contributions to the international Olympic Movement. Recalling the splendid and successful Beijing Olympic Winter Games, Thomas Bach said the legacy of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games will continue to benefit the Chinese people and people around the world. Noting the geopolitical conflicts and many other difficulties the world is facing, Thomas Bach said that the IOC is committed to safeguarding multilateralism and opposing the politicization of sports, and the IOC appreciates China for taking the right stance in this regard. The IOC is satisfied with its successful cooperation with China, thanks China for its support for the international Olympic Movement, and hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China. Thomas Bach expressed his confidence that the Hangzhou Asian Games will be successful and splendid and advance unity and friendship in Asia.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and Shen Yiqin, among others, attended the meeting.