At noon on February 7, 2025, President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a banquet at the Sun Island Hotel in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province to welcome international dignitaries who are in China to attend the opening ceremony of the Ninth Asian Winter Games Harbin.

They are Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and his wife Aigul Japarova, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Woo Won-shik and his wife Shin Kyung-hye as well as President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia Timothy Tsun Ting Fok, and others.

Harbin, the "Ice City", is adorned in silver and white during the Spring Festival, and the snow promises a fruitful year.

Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan exchanged New Year greetings with the distinguished guests, shook hands warmly, and posed for a group photo.

Forty children dressed in traditional Chinese and foreign ethnic costumes sang the beautiful Heilongjiang folk song "The Wusuli River Boat Song" to warmly welcome the international dignitaries.

Inside the banquet hall, the dazzling event for winter sports intertwined with the vibrant atmosphere of the Chinese New Year, creating a festive and harmonious mood.

Xi Jinping delivered remarks and extended a warm welcome on behalf of the Chinese government and people to international dignitaries who are in China to attend the opening ceremony of the Ninth Asian Winter Games.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the cauldron of the Ninth Asian Winter Games will be lit tonight. From the Olympic Winter Games Beijing to the Asian Winter Games Harbin, the passion in China for ice and snow has swept across the nation. It has also invigorated winter sports around the world. The current Asian Winter Games sets a new record in its history in the numbers of participating countries, regions and athletes. Xi Jinping expressed the belief that with the joint efforts of the Olympic Council of Asia and delegations from all participating countries and regions, Harbin will present to the world a great sports event that is distinctly Chinese, uniquely Asian and spectacular, thus writing a new, magnificent chapter of ice and snow sports.

Xi Jinping stressed that the theme of the Ninth Asian Winter Games - "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia" - embodies the shared aspiration and desire of the Asian people for peace, development and friendship. The Asian countries should uphold the shared dream for tranquility and harmony, and contribute Asian strength to building an equal and orderly multipolar world. The Asian countries should pursue the shared aspiration for prosperity and development, and provide sustained drive for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. The Asian countries should fulfill the shared desire for friendship and affinity, and contribute more to the development and progress of human civilization.

Xi Jinping noted that Harbin is the birthplace of China's modern winter sports. Ice and snow are as valuable as gold and silver. The ice and snow culture and economy are becoming a new driving force for the high-quality development of Harbin and a new bond linking the city and the world. Everyone is welcome to explore this hospitable, open and inclusive land of black soil, and to trace the path of Chinese modernization. May everyone have beautiful and unforgettable memories of ice and snow in Harbin. He wishes all athletes excellent performance with the agility of the snake in the Year of the Snake.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, and Shen Yiqin, among others, attended the event.

Before the start of the welcoming banquet, the distinguished guests enjoyed a display showcasing the intangible cultural heritage of Heilongjiang.