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Chinese President Xi Jinping
Photo: Li Xiang / imago images / Xinhua
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to greet Russian President Vladimir Putin and other heads of state at the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reports that Xi Jinping will attend the celebrations in the capital from February 4 to 6, and will also hold a welcome banquet for foreign heads of state, government leaders, members of royal families and heads of international organizations.
In addition to Putin, the guest list also includes the presidents of Poland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Egypt.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, is also said to travel to Beijing.
In addition to IOC President Thomas Bach, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, are also expected to attend.
The US government had declared that it would boycott the games diplomatically because of the human rights situation.
Australia, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand joined.
asc/dpa