Jian Zhou: From the Beijing Winter Olympics to the Qatar World Cup, how can Asian countries tell a good sports story?

With the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, another global sporting event will be presented in Asia. Sport is a common human language that transcends civilisations and borders. From the Beijing Winter Olympics to the Qatar World Cup, how can Asian countries tell the global sports story? What Chinese elements can we find at the Qatar World Cup? How can major sporting events promote the exchange and mutual appreciation of human civilisation? China News Agency’s East Meets West interviewed the Chinese Ambassador to Qatar, Jian Zhou, exclusively on this topic.

Jian Zhou, born in 1968, has a Master’s Degree in Modern World History from the History Department of the Renmin University of China. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995 and has served as a section officer and Third Secretary in the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Third Secretary and Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Singapore, Second Secretary and Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the State of Qatar since July 2019.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is a great event for fans all over the world, what do you think of this World Cup and the Chinese elements that are reflected in it?

The Chinese elements and contributions at the Qatar World Cup were outstanding. The Lusail Stadium, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation became a landmark building in Qatar, CEC’s solar photovoltaic project provided a steady stream of green energy for the World Cup, and 1,500 Yutong new energy buses provided efficient green passage for spectators. Football peripherals, accessories and souvenirs from China decorated the streets and lanes, giving Qatar a festive look.

The arrival of two adorable pandas in the run-up to the World Cup was a striking sign of friendship between China and Qatar. It can be said that the Chinese elements have made an important contribution to the Qatar World Cup, deepening the friendship between the Chinese and Qatari people, strengthening public opinion, cooperation between the two countries and providing a strong impetus for the prosperous development of China-Qatar relations.

Tourists select souvenirs from the 2022 World Cup souvenir shop inside Hamad International Airport. Credit: Nan Cui

The Emir of Qatar (Head of State) Tamim, who went to China earlier this year to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, expressed his willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in the field of sport and other humanities. What is the common sporting DNA of China and Qatar? What other areas of cooperation can be developed between the two countries in the context of the post-Winter Olympics cooperation and the World Cup?

Sports exchanges are an important part of China-Qatar cooperation. Both countries share a passion for sports and both countries actively host major sporting events and have a broad and solid basis for sports cooperation.

The flags of the participating countries fly in the wind at the Qatar World Cup Countdown Square. Credit: Tian Fu.

With the Asian Olympic Games to be held in Hangzhou, China next year and the 2030 Asian Olympic Games to be held in Qatar, we believe we will continue to host more major sporting events in the future and both sides can strengthen mutual support and cooperation in the areas of event bidding, organisation, preparation, security and publicity.

Three Chinese referees, Ning Ma, Yi Cao and Xiang Shi, communicate with FIFA staff after a pre-match mock enforcement training session at Qatar Sports Club in Doha, Qatar, with some of the World Cup enforcement referees. Photo by Nan Cui

In addition to the tournament, the unique culture of this year’s World Cup has also attracted attention. How do you see the role that major sporting events such as the World Cup play in the mutual appreciation of civilisations? What kind of football World Cup would you like Chinese fans to experience?

Sport is a common human language that transcends civilisations and borders, bringing people from all corners of the world together under the banner of unity to strive for a common goal. It is also the most direct, widespread and passionate medium for people of all nations to connect with each other.

By participating in a major sporting event, we not only experience the beauty of competitive sport, but also learn about a path of development, appreciate a form of civilisation, savour a way of life, share a sense of truth, and gain a deeper understanding of the value of respect, which is exactly what civilisation exchange and mutual appreciation should be about.

I also hope that through this World Cup, Chinese fans will learn about the historical Arab civilisation, the unique geography and customs of the Gulf region, and the free-spirited Arab football style.

Fans visit the Qatar World Cup Countdown Square. Credit: Tian Fu.

The Beijing Winter Olympics and the Qatar World Cup, two of this year's world sporting events, were both hosted by Asian countries. How do you think Asian countries can work together to tell a good sports story for the world?

In recent years, more and more major sporting events have been held in Asia and the world of sports has entered the "Asian moment", reflecting the fact that Asia is becoming an important ground for development and cooperation, and is making its voice heard in the world with more vigour and confidence. Asian countries should take the World Cup, the Asian Games and other major sporting events as an opportunity to actively tell the Asian story and showcase Asia's style.

We must tell the story of Asia's love for peace. We will use sport as an opportunity to enhance friendship and bridge divides, insist that countries live in harmony and treat each other sincerely, support each other in exploring development paths that suit their own conditions, resolutely oppose hegemonism and bullying, and safeguard our common home.

As Asia is an important birthplace of human civilisation, we should use sport as a bridge to strengthen tolerance and mutual appreciation, promote Asian values, oppose the politicisation of sport issues, oppose ideological lines that create division and confrontation, and oppose the distortion and discrediting of non-Western civilisations, so as to jointly create a better future for Asian and world civilisations.

A girl shows a panda drawn on the back of her hand, and on November 17, the first pair of Chinese pandas to Qatar, Jingjing and Sihai, were officially introduced to local people on the eve of the World Cup. Credit: Tian Fu

This year's World Cup Final venue, the Lusail Stadium, was built by a Chinese company, so how did this venue become an overseas card for "China Construction"?

The stadium has become a landmark project for Chinese onstruction in Qatar and the Middle East.

The Lusail Stadium will host the final and closing ceremonies of this year's World Cup, witnessing the historic moment when the Hercules Cup was clinched. It is the most important stadium of the Qatar World Cup, the 'Bird's Nest' of Qatar, and its successful completion is China's 'gift' to the Qatar World Cup, demonstrating China's unwavering support for the success of the tournament.

Exterior view of the Russell Stadium for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Credit: Tian Fu

The Lusail stadium was featured on the newly issued 10 Qatari Riyal note last year. In addition, the Central Bank of Qatar launched a special edition commemorative banknote for the Qatar World Cup on 9 November, and the fact that the Lusail Stadium is once again featured on this currency set is a clear indication of the high recognition Qatar has for the Stadium.

The Qatari currency, the Riyal, bears a view of the exterior of the Russell Stadium for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Credit: Tian Fu

Two pandas, Jingjing and Sihai, arrive in Doha ahead of the opening of the World Cup in Qatar. What is the special significance of the cooperation between China and Qatar panda research? How have Jingjing and Sihai been spending their time abroad and can you share some interesting stories?

Two adorable pandas arrived in Doha on 19 October, a landmark event in the history of China-Qatar relations. The cooperation on the research of giant pandas between China and Qatar is an important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and Emir Tamim and the first of its kind in the Gulf region, demonstrating the great importance the two heads of state attach to China-Qatar relations.

As far as I can tell, they are adapting very well. Jingjing is an extrovert and has fully adapted to his new environment. Sihai, who is an introvert, has also adapted to 80 to 90%. After completing 21 days of quarantine, the two pandas started to adapt to their environment in the outer exhibition hall on November 9, giving them more space to move around. Jingjing is particularly fond of the pond in his new home, while Sihai likes the large trees.

Interestingly, although they are now stationed abroard, they still only recognise the Sichuan accent. They ignore the keepers’ callings in Mandarin, but when they are called in the Sichuan dialect, they come running. The Qatari staff are trying to learn Sichuanese while taking care of the pandas. I think this is one of the ways in which the pandas are promoting cultural exchange between the two countries.

On November 17, the first pair of Chinese giant pandas to Qatar, Jingjing and Sihai, were officially introduced to the local people on the eve of the World Cup. Credit: Tian Fu