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Chinese officials have highlighted that sport has always played a major role in promoting world peace and development.

The statement came as Zhang Yesui, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the General Assembly on the agenda item 'Sport for Peace and Development'.

"China believes that sport has always played a major catalytic role in mankind's pursuit of peace and development," adding that "it deepens understanding and exchanges among different cultures and promotes dialogue and cooperation."

"China appreciates efforts by the UN to integrate the values of sport with the goal of peace and development.

"We support the (UN) Secretary-General's special advisor and the UN Sport Office in their endeavor to mobilise all resources to incorporate sport into activities and programs for peacekeeping, development, education, health, gender equality, and the safeguarding of the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, so as to further advance the role of sport in helping to achieve the UN MDGs (Millennium Development Goals)."

Zhang believes that the success of the Beijing Olympics has greatly increased the impact of Olympic Games in developing countries, promoted the spread of the Olympic spirit, aroused the enthusiasm of hundreds of millions of Chinese people in sport and solidified the social foundation of the development of sport at the grass roots level in China.

In September of this year, the Chinese government promulgated National Fitness Regulations, the first comprehensive set of administrative regulations focusing on the development of the national fitness program.

As Zhang explained, "by specifying the right of citizens to engaging in national fitness activities and the responsibilities of government departments in promoting fitness for all, the Regulations provide strong legal protection for national fitness activities."

He added that the Chinese government has also put in place a national physical condition monitoring system, a set of physical exercise standards, and a physical training system for the general public.

Currently, with the coordination and healthy development of competitive sport, grass-roots sport activities, and physical education throughout the Chinese educational system, the number of people engaged in regular physical exercise accounts for 28.2% of the entire population.

Zhang explained that "there are more than 850,000 sports facilities nationwide and 1.03 square meters of sports facilities per capita, which are, respectively

"There are now, throughout the country, nearly 210,000 urban and rural fitness training centers and fitness venues, 3,092 youth sport clubs. The number of national single-event sport associations, provincial, district and municipal sport associations, and professional sports associations has increased to 176."

Guided by the scientific outlook on development, the Chinese government will continue to give full play to the positive role of sport in the building of a harmonious society, adhere to the goal of raising the physical well-being and quality of life of the entire Chinese people, build more and better urban and rural fitness facilities, improve grass-roots sport organizations and the national fitness system, and provide better sport service to the public, so that the people can share health and development outcomes brought by sport.

Zhang concluded "we stand ready to work with other countries and continue to advance the role of sport in promoting international peace and development, enhance international cooperation and exchanges in sport, and jointly contribute to world peace, development and prosperity."

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