On the afternoon of March 5, President Xi Jinping attended a meeting with deputies from Jiangsu Province at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

Zhang Yufei, a three-time Olympian and 10-time medalist for China's national swimming team, spoke at the meeting as one of the six representatives, sharing her journey of dedication.

"Seeing the five-star red flag fly is my greatest honor," she said.

"It symbolizes not only a flag, but a belief!"

Xi encouraged her to continue striving on the sports field while mentoring young athletes: "A sports powerhouse is a crucial indicator of a great modern country," he said. "It is reflected two ways: widespread public participation and high health levels, and the comprehensive development of competitive sports."