Kuala Lumpur, Aug 1 (IANS): The Beijing 2022 Olympics bid team hosted a reception at the Shangri-La hotel here just after the Chinese capital was awarded the 2022 Winter Games.

Beijing beat Almaty, Kazakstan by 44 votes to 40 on Friday at the 128th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session to become the first city to host both summer and winter Olympics, Xinhua reported on Saturday.

More than 600 people including IOC president Thomas Bach, IOC vice president Craig Reedie, IOC executive board members Patrick Hickey and Juan Antonio Samaranch attended the reception.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong extended gratitude on behalf of the Chinese government and people to the IOC and its full membership for trust in China.

Liu said that hosting the 2022 Winter Games has offered China an opportunity to make greater contribution to the Olympic Movement and will help achieve the 'healthy China' goal.

Liu also pledged that China would work hard under the guidance of the IOC to present a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Winter Olympics.

Bach congratulated Beijing on winning the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, and expressed his confidence about the successful delivery of the Games.