The pair, who met at the Olympic Museum in the Swiss city where global officials are holding talks on Iran's nuclear programme, discussed the role of sport in China as well as the nation's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Bach praised the development of sport in the country under President Xi Jinping, who he most recently met with during last year's Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

He also highlighted China's support for the United Nations' sustainable development goals, which include proposals to ensure healthy lifestyles and the promotion of wellbeing for all, as well as gender equality and access to lifelong learning opportunities.

Thomas Bach held talks with Chinese Foreign Secretary Wang Yi at the IOC headquarters ©IOC

"China has a real vision about the importance of sport for education, for social cohesion and for international representation," said Bach, who was accompanied by IOC vice-president Yu Zaiqing.

"I would like to thank again President Xi for not only promoting the role of sport in China but also for supporting the mention of sport within the sustainable development goals of the United Nations."

The meeting comes just days after the IOC Evaluation Commission concluded its site inspection in the Chinese capital as part of the 2022 Olympic bid process and Wang reiterated the full support of the Chinese Government to the bid.

Thomas Bach praised the development of sport in China President Xi Jinping, who he met during last year's Summer Youth Olympic Games held in Nanjing ©Nanjing 2014



He promised that all commitments made during the bidding phase would be realised if the city is awarded the Games.

Meanwhile, Bach also held an informal meeting with Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The pair discussed the bidding procedure for the 2024 Summer Olympics, for which Hamburg is bidding to host, and spoke about the success of the new Invitation Phase, introduced as part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms.

Officials from the German Olympic Sports Confederation took advantage of the new phase when they attended a meeting at the IOC headquarters earlier this month to discuss their plans and seek advice on their campaign.

Bach also met with Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, where they discussed the IOC President's visit to Sochi for the SportAccord Convention next month.

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