Japan Press Weekly

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2018 February 7 - 13 TOP3 [JCP]

Shii hopes PyeonChang Games will lead to global peace

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on February 9 expressed his earnest hope that the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games "will become a springboard for bringing about true peace on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the rest of the world".

Shii said this in response to reporters asking for a comment on the Winter Olympics opening ceremony he earlier attended as a member of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union.

When athletes from South and North Korea marched together in the opening ceremony, the audience cheered and gave them a standing ovation. IOC President Thomas Bach after the ceremony expressed his impression of their march under the united flag, saying that they "sent a powerful message of peace" from PyeongChang to the entire world and that the unity in diversity is "stronger than all the forces that want to divide" people.

Quoting his words, Shii said, "His speech was very impressive and moving. I strongly hope that we will overcome 'all the forces that want to divide us', and also hope this sports festival will become a catalyst for world peace."

Prior to the opening ceremony, Shii along with other members of the Japanese Dietmembers' delegation took part in a welcome reception held by the host province. Shii exchanged greetings with the local governor and delegates of 18 countries, including the United States, China, Russia, and Vietnam.

In the evening of February 8, Shii participated in a banquet hosted by the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union to welcome the Japanese parliamentarians. Shii had a conversation with Kang Chang-il, the chairman of the host organization.

Past related article:
> JCP Koike at Korean party offers his wishes for success of Winter Games in PyeongChang [January 13, 2018]