President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2017 BRICS Games, which opened in Guangzhou on Saturday. The opening of the first BRICS Games marked an important consensus reached by the BRICS leaders at the Goa Summit in 2016.

While noting that each BRICS member country has its own distinct strengths in sports, Xi said he believes that the BRICS Games will provide a unique opportunity to improve performance, popularize traditional sports, promote sports development and enhance friendship among peoples.

"I hope athletes on all sides will display true sportsmanship and excel in the Games," the president said in the letter.