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Beijing and the nearby city of Zhangjiakou won the right to
host the Games in 2015. The only other city bidding was Almaty
in Kazakhstan, after other competitors dropped out, citing costs
and other worries.
While Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Games to wide acclaim, its
bid for the Winter Games was dogged by concern over numerous
issues, such as corruption, the city's notorious smog, a lack of
snow and China's poor human rights record.
Touring Zhangjiakou, where outdoor events like skiing will be
held, Xi said costs must be kept under control, according to
state news agency Xinhua.
"All projects must show the principle of the thrifty and
intensive use of resources and the most effective use of
resources," it paraphrased Xi as saying.
"Don't go in for grandiose projects or rashly put up
establishments," he added, without elaborating.
The budget for the Games has been pegged at around $3 billion,
far less than the $51 billion Russia spent on Sochi in 2014.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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