The 9th Asian Winter Games embodies Asian people's shared aspirations for peace, prosperity and friendship, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday, urging common commitment to realizing these goals.

Xi made the remarks at a welcome banquet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Games in Harbin, capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

He called on Asia to hold fast to the common dream of peace and amity, jointly respond to all sorts of security challenges, and contribute to building an equal and orderly multipolar world.

Xi also stressed the shared pursuit of prosperity and development, calling on Asian people to seek common progress and inject impetus into economic globalization.

To realize the common wish of integration and affinity, Xi called for promoting inclusive coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations in Asia.

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Xi says Harbin to deliver great sports gala for world 

HARBIN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China's northeastern city of Harbin, host city of the 9th Asian Winter Games, will deliver a spectacular sports gala for the world.

At a banquet held ahead of the opening ceremony, Xi extended a warm welcome to international dignitaries who are here to attend the ceremony.

China's ice-and-snow fervor ignited by major sports events has injected fresh vitality into global winter sports, Xi told the guests, among whom was International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

The 9th Asian Winter Games attracted a record number of participating countries and regions, as well as registered athletes, Xi said.

Harbin will deliver for the world a sports gala that is distinctly Chinese, uniquely Asian and spectacular, he noted.

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Xi says ice and snow becoming new driver of growth 

HARBIN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday the ice-and-snow fervor and related economy are becoming new engines of Harbin's high-quality development and new pathways of its opening up.

Xi made the remarks while addressing a welcome banquet held for international dignitaries who are here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games.

Harbin, dubbed China's "ice city," is the birthplace of the country's modern winter sports. The city hosted the third edition of the Games in 1996.