Thomas Bach has has held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping after his arrival in Beijing for the Winter Olympic Games ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has become the first foreign dignitary to hold face-to-face talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for nearly two years after completing his three-day self-imposed isolation here in Beijing.

State-run news agency Xinhua has reported that the meeting took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse today in the lead-up to the Winter Olympics in the Chinese capital, which are due to open on February 4. 

The fact that Xi met Bach in person demonstrates the importance of these Winter Olympic Games to the Chinese Government.

It was believed to be Xi's first face time with a foreign dignitary since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The last known meeting that Xi had with a foreign leader was in March 2020, when he and Pakistani President Arif Alvi discussed measures to fight the coronavirus in the Chinese capital.

State broadcaster CCTV showed the two unmasked leaders sitting metres apart in a large room, surrounded by officials in face masks with the IOC and Chinese flags on display.

Thomas Bach and IOC officials held talks with Chinese Government officials during a visit to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thomas Bach and IOC officials held talks with Chinese Government officials during a visit to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Xi promised Bach that China would hold a "simple, safe and splendid Olympics", according to a CCTV readout of the meeting.

"We are fully confident of ensuring the health and safety of participants, relevant personnel and the Chinese people," Xi said.

According to Xinhua, Xi told Bach that he had identified, early in the bidding stage, the primary purpose of hosting the Games as engaging 300 million people in winter sport. 

"Thanks to continuous efforts, this vision has become a reality," Xi said. 

"'Ice and snow are also as valuable as gold and silver,'". 

An IOC statement said the pair discussed the COVID prevention measures in place and the "excellent state of preparations" for the Games.

Bach also congratulated Xi on achieving his goal of bringing winter sports to more than 300 million people in China, telling him it "is now a winter sports country, and this is the start of a new era for global winter sports".

Concerns over China’s human rights record has resulted in an United States-led diplomatic boycott of the event in Beijing, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause disruption in the host nation and across the world.

But the Games are expected to go ahead as planned with Beijing set to become the first city to host both the Winter and Summer Olympics.

Thomas Bach is the first foreign dignitary that Chinese President Xi Jinping has met face-to-face since the COVID-19 pandemic started nearly two years ago ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thomas Bach is the first foreign dignitary that Chinese President Xi Jinping has met face-to-face since the COVID-19 pandemic started nearly two years ago ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bach’s meeting with Xi comes on the first day of his official programme of engagements following his arrival in Beijing on Saturday (January 23).

Although there are no quarantine requirements for vaccinated athletes and officials at the Games, it has been revealed that Bach spent three days in isolation.

insidethegames has been told by the IOC that Bach’s decision was "out of precaution" before staging meetings in Beijing.

A bust of Bach has recently been unveiled in central Beijing by IOC and Beijing 2022 vice-president Yu Zaiqing.

It joins similar busts of former IOC Presidents Juan Antonio Samaranch and Jacques Rogge in a park opened in celebration of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.