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CHANGCHUN, China-President Hu Jintao was the surprise guest in the last multi-sports Games to be hosted in the country before the 2008 Olympics with the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Winter Games on Sunday.  

Altogether, more than 1,100 athletes and officials from different countries and regions-including 160 from China and a single skier from Palestine-have registered to take part in the Games, which run until February 4.  

“Today for the first time representatives of all 45 OCA members are with us which is a great achievement for the organizing committee. ” said Olympic Council of Asia£¨OCA£©chief Ahmad Al-Sabah.  

China dominated the main Asian Games in Doha in December but their winter athletes, who have won just four of their country’s 114 Olympic gold medals, are unlikely to do the same. Unsurprisingly, the loudest cheers were reserved for the Chinese party but there were also warm welcomes for the Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Taipei athletes.