Beijing, Jan 28 (FN Agency) Beijing expects over 20 leaders of various states, governments and international organizations to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Chinese states-owned broadcaster China Central Television reported on Friday. According to the media, Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome banquet for foreign leaders, heads of government, members of royal families and heads of international organizations coming to China to participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympics and relevant bilateral events. Beijing is expected to be visited by leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Egypt, Poland, Serbia, Argentina, Ecuador, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Luxembourg, Monaco and Thailand. Prime ministers of Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, heads of governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea and Azerbaijan will also arrive for the Olympics.
The opening ceremony will also be attended by President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and others. Earlier this week, Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov said the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin will include only participation in official events and the opening ceremony, but Chinese President Xi Jinping may prepare a surprise for the Russian leader. The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from February 4-20. The Winter Paralympics will take place in the Chinese capital from March 4-13.