The Inauguration Ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee and the First Plenary Meeting Held in Harbin

Gao Zhidan and Liang Huiling Unveil the Committee and Deliver speeches, with Zhang Anshun in attendance

Harbin, 10 January (Reported by Xue Liwei and Xu Jiaqian) --- On morning of 10 January, the inauguration ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee & the first plenary meeting were heldin Harbin. Gao Zhidan, President of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee, Minister of General Administration of Sport of China, attended the meeting and delivered a speech, while Liang Huiling, President of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee, Governor of Heilongjiang Province, presided over the meeting. Prior to the meeting, Gao Zhidan and Liang Huiling unveiled the nameplate of the Organising Committee.

Gao Zhidan pointed out that the 9th Asian Winter Games is another major international comprehensive ice and snow sports event held in China after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. It is crucial to resolutely implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, considering the preparation of the 9th Asian Winter Games as an major practice for constructing a new development pattern, deepening reform and opening up, as well as an important measure to speed up the construction of a powerhouse of sports, develop ice and snow sports and the ice and snow sports industry. With a strong sense of political responsibility and historical mission, we should complete the preparation work of the 9th Asian Winter Games with high standards and quality, and meet the requirements of hosting a “Streamlined, Safe, and Spectacular” Games. In addition, efforts should be made to improve institutional measures, take the initiative to prevent risks and challenges, strengthen ecological protection, and strictly adhere to technical standards and norms in the preparation process, to ensure the safe hosting of the Games. Attention should be paid to the work of competition organisation. The Organising Committee should play a leading role in coordination, supervision and inspection. The sports department should strengthen personnel training and testing to ensure overall linkage and full support. It was vital to take the opportunity of the preparation for the Games to launch more mass ice and snow events, organise more activities integrating culture, sports, tourism and commerce, expanding the consumption of sports leisure and cultural tourism, raising the contribution rate of the sports industry to economic development, and promoting the comprehensive revitalisation of Northeast China.

Liang Huiling stressed that hosting the 9th Asian Winter Games is a prestigious mission entrusted to Heilongjiang Province and Harbin City by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.  It is imperative to raise political awareness, have a clear understanding of matters of national significance, and shoulder major political responsibilities. Organizing the 9th Asian Winter Games should be considered a vital platform to showcase our national image, promote international cultural exchanges, seize the crucial opportunity for the development of the ice and snow economy, and serve as a pivotal means of enhancing our city's brand. We should strive to stage a sports event that highlights Asian style, Chinese characteristics, Heilongjiang uniqueness, and the charm of Harbin. We should unwaveringly support the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralised, unified leadership. We should carry forward the spirit of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, adhere to the world vision and international standards, striving to raise the professional level of the preparation work of the 9th Asian Winter Games. It is needed to make scientific and reasonable use of existing venues, facilities and other resources, enhance various security measures, and integrate green, low-carbon, energy-saving and environmental protection measures and sustainable development philosophies into all aspects of event organisation, demonstrating the responsible image of Heilongjiang with high-quality preparation results. By stepping up training and preparation, improving competitive levels, and winning medals for China, we should fully leverage Heilongjiang’s competitive advantages in ice and snow sports to make new contributions to China's competitive ice and snow sports. We should highlight local advantages, striving to integrate Heilongjiang elements and the charm of Harbin into the preparation of the Games, for which we need to strengthen urban governance, launch more cultural initiatives, promote the Games and create an ice and snow atmosphere, develop characteristic cultural tourism, focusing on generating new growth engines for the ice and snow economy, and creating a new landscape of high-quality development and sustainable revitalisation in Heilongjiang.

The preparation work of the 9th Asian Winter Games was reported in the meeting, and the plan for the department establishment and functional distribution within the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Organising Committee (Executive Committee) and the working rules of the Organising Committee were deliberated and adopted.

Others in attendance were Li Yinchuan and Zhou Jinqiang, Vice Ministers of General Administration of Sport of China, Zhang Anshun, Han Shengjian, and Qian Fuyong, leaders of Heilongjiang Province, Zhang Qixiang, Mayor of Harbin, officials of relevant national ministries and commissions, member units of the provincial leading group of the 9th Asian Winter Games, and heads of “one office and 14 departments” of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 Executive Committee.