Ski-loving Chilean ambassador to China: Zhangjiakou facilities are world-class丨 Diplomats in China watch the Winter Olympics (2)

Ambassadors to China, who are busy with official duties, also have personal hobbies in private. Recently, Chilean Ambassador to China Luis Schmidt revealed in a joint interview with Shangguan News and International Business Daily that he himself loves skiing. After serving as ambassador to China, every winter, if there is leisure time on the weekend, he usually thinks about Skiing in Zhangjiakou first.

Schmidt, an engineer by training, visited China as early as 1991 and participated in the work of the Chilean agricultural sector as the head of the Chilean National Agricultural Association and the Chilean Fruit Producers Federation, and was familiar with trade affairs. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Chile's ambassador to China, and when he arrived, he strongly advocated the export of Chilean cherries to China. In 2018, he took up this position again, and with the joint efforts of him and related workers, he solved the problem of 20,000 kilometers of transportation routes, storage, and preservation, and now, a large part of the cherries produced in Chile are sold to China, becoming the Chinese's New Year goods. During the cherry season from late 2019 to early 2020, Chilean cherries exported 320,000 tons to China, more than ten times as much as in 2010.

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Schmidt, who is over seventy years old, has a kind face and usually wears a suit to participate in various activities in China. But in Zhangjiakou, he often appears on the snow field wearing a storm jacket and a pair of ski goggles, a cool old man.

In the ski experience of Zhangjiakou, the opening of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway is most appreciated by him. "In the past, it would take me 3 hours to drive from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, but now it only takes me 45 minutes to take the high-speed train."

He said: "On the weekend for two days, I will enjoy a pleasant skiing time in Zhangjiakou. Usually on Sundays at 7 or 8 p.m. and then take the high-speed train back to Beijing, I enjoy this experience. ”

"Chile is a long and narrow region with mountains and many ski resorts." The Portillo Ski Resort in the capital Santiago is a world-renowned ski resort that has hosted the World Ski Championships, Schmidt said. While in Chile, he went skiing at the Portillo ski slopes every winter weekend. "So I know that Zhangjiakou's (Winter Olympics) facilities are world class."

Regarding the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Schmidt said: "First of all, congratulations to the Chinese government and the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee. I often go to Zhangjiakou and experience first-hand the various venues and facilities carefully prepared by the Chinese government for hosting the Winter Olympics. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all those involved, and express my gratitude and blessings to the Chinese people who have worked hard to support the Winter Olympics. ”

Column Editor-in-Chief: Fan Jianghong Text Editor: Fan Jianghong

Source: Author: Xiao Tong