STORY: Foreign envoys explore vibrant energy behind China's ice-and-snow economy
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 23-26, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: HARBIN, China
CATEGORY: POLITICS/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): HAO YALIN, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of tourism in Heilongjiang Province
3. SOUNDBITE (English): PETER LIZAK, Slovak Ambassador to China
4. SOUNDBITE (English): MILIA JABBOUR, Lebanese Ambassador to China
5. various of winter sports in China
6. SOUNDBITE (English): JURG BURRI, Swiss Ambassador to China
7. SOUNDBITE (English): ANDREAS RIECKEN, Austrian Ambassador to China
8. SOUNDBITE (English): MILIA JABBOUR, Lebanese Ambassador to China

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): HAO YALIN, Xinhua correspondent
"Welcome to Heilongjiang, the northernmost province of China. Despite the freezing cold weather, it has become one of the most popular tourism hotspots recently with breathtaking winter scenery and entertaining ice and snow activities.
This week we have come along with foreign diplomats from several countries to take a tour in Heilongjiang, exploring the vibrant energy behind the icy world."

The five-day tour attracted 22 ambassadors and diplomats from 18 countries and international organizations. From the enchanting snow village to ski and curling venues, the foreign envoys traveled hundreds of kilometers, gaining a more immersive experience of the enthusiasm for ice and snow, and looking for cooperation opportunities in ice and snow tourism and business.

SOUNDBITE (English): PETER LIZAK, Slovak Ambassador to China
"I think the area is very nice. For me, it reminds me of the mountains, the hills we have in Slovakia. So you can really use it for winter tourism. So, it has really good potential to develop it."

SOUNDBITE (English): MILIA JABBOUR, Lebanese Ambassador to China
"Lebanon is keen to develop this kind of (ice and snow) tourism. There are plenty of opportunities for collaboration with China. We see that Chinese are doing an amazing job when it comes to infrastructure in this area."

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games have ignited unparalleled enthusiasm for winter sports, which promoted the booming winter tourism and relevant industries. The foreign diplomats have learned about the preparation work of the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games scheduled in Harbin next year and expressed their expectations for potential cooperation opportunities.

SOUNDBITE (English): JURG BURRI, Swiss Ambassador to China
"We have many companies that provide technical installations, and I will be very happy to see if Swiss companies can win in the tenders that are being given out for the Winter Games."

SOUNDBITE (English): ANDREAS RIECKEN, Austrian Ambassador to China
"There is already cooperation going on, but of course, you can never cooperate enough. I am looking forward and we're also happy and willing to cooperate with China in developing ice and snow industries."

SOUNDBITE (English): MILIA JABBOUR, Lebanese Ambassador to China
"I'm very happy to be here, and I will be looking forward to coming back, and hopefully with a Lebanese delegation participating in the 2025 Asian (Winter) Games next year."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harbin, China.
(XHTV)