Harbin, China – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday hosted a welcome banquet in China's northeastern city of Harbin for international dignitaries who are here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari participated in the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warmly welcomed President Zardari at the event, which was attended by several heads of state from around the world.

Before the official ceremony, President Zardari, President Xi Jinping, and other world leaders departed for a luncheon, highlighting the spirit of international cooperation and diplomatic engagement at the prestigious sporting event.

Opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games was held at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition, and Sports Center in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. This marks China’s third time hosting the event and its first major international winter sports competition since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

For the first time, a branch venue has been set up at Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest such theme park. The site will operate in sync with the main venue at Harbin International Exhibition Center Stadium during the ceremony.

This year’s event features six sports, 11 disciplines and 64 events. Notably, 31 percent of the events are making their debut at the Games, including two in speed skating, one in short track speed skating, one in curling, three in ski mountaineering, nine in freestyle skiing, and four in snowboarding.

With a delegation of 170 athletes, Team China will compete in all 64 events at this year’s Asian Winter Games, providing a valuable training opportunity ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

More than 1,270 athletes from 34 countries and regions across Asia have registered to participate in the Games, making this edition the largest in terms of participating delegation

The first gold medal of the Harbin Asian Winter Games is expected to be awarded on the morning of Feb. 8, with the short-track speed skating 2,000m mixed relay emerging as the most likely event to produce it, based on competition schedules and duration.

Editor: Tahir Murtaza