Putin wishes Chinese Olympic athletes 'success'

Russian president Vladimir Putin visits China House at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games on February 10, 2014. [Photo by Lei Lei/China Daily]

Russian president Vladimir Putin said he believed Chinese athletes could put on good performance at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, and he wished them 'success' during a visit to China House in the Russian coastal city on Monday.  [Special coverage]

Putin said Chinese President Xi Jinping, who attended Friday's opening ceremony for the Games at Putin's invitation, had asked him to pay special attention to the Chinese athletes at the Sochi Games.

"I believe the Chinese athletes will perform well, at least they will have good time here," Putin said. "I know the Chinese athletes are very hard working. I wish you success."

China House was set up by the Chinese Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games to serve the Chinese delegation and to display to the public the history of Chinese sports.

Putin arrived at China House at 7 pm local time and met some of the representatives from the Chinese delegation to the Sochi Games. He also listened to communications between young athletes of the two countries.

After watching a performance of Chinese martial arts, Putin talked with Liu Peng, director of China's State General Administration of Sport and also chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation. Liu told him about Beijing's bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

"The whole world knows that China is making great efforts in the development of sports and President Xi attached great importance to it," Putin told Liu. "I believe China's winter sports will achieve good results as well. I hope there will be more communication among the young people of our two countries"

"Putin's visit to the China House marked the close relationship between the two countries, and he spoke highly about China's sports," said Xiao Tian, deputy chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation.

Chen Lu, China's figure skating women's singles world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, met Putin during his visit to China House. "It was my first time meeting him, and I shook hands with him. I felt excited," said Chen "He is a nice man."