Chinese Vice Premier Liu visits Olympic delegation

Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong(2nd R), Chinese president Xi Jinping's special envoy, hugs members of Chinese gymnastics team during her visit to Chinese Olympic delegation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 4, 2016. Liu Yandong visited Chinese Olympic delegation here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 4 -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong Thursday called on the country's athletes to spread the Olympic spirit of unity, friendship and progress at the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.

Liu, who was invited to attend Friday's opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium as the envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, visited the Athletes Village and talked to a group of Chinese athletes and coaches Thursday afternoon.

"The Chinese leadership has always attached great importance to sports. Today I came here to bring to you the sincere greetings and best wishes from President Xi Jinping," said Liu.

With a squad of 416 athletes, China's representation in Brazil is the country's largest ever for an overseas Olympics, and 302 of them are taking part in the event for the first time.

Liu hailed the Olympic Games as the largest and most influential sporting event in the world as well as a platform for communications and exchanges.

"I hope that you can plant the seeds of friendship and become Chinese people's ambassadors while delivering your best level," she said.

Spearhead by 35 Olympic champions, the Chinese team are expected to win gold medals in table tennis, badminton, shooting, gymnastics, diving and weightlifting, the six sports in which they have long dominiated.