ASHGABAT, TURKMENISTAN: Chinese city of Hangzhou was confirmed as the host of the 2022 Asian Games on Wednesday after bidding unopposed.

The Olympic Council of Asia signed a contract with officials from the coastal city of almost 9 million people during meetings in Turkmenistan.

"I know it's the only candidate, but also it has achieved a lot of our goals," OCA president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah said.

"The Asian Games ... will play a very big role in the development of the city," Hangzhou mayor Zhong Hongming said.

With Beijing also hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022, it will be a big year in sport for China, which also held the Asian Games in Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province near Shanghai, has an ancient history under China's former imperial dynasties, but has grown rapidly in recent years, boosted by the country's economic growth.

The next Asian Games will be in Indonesia in 2018. Originally, Hanoi, Vietnam, was due to hold the games in 2019, but it withdrew citing financial concerns. Indonesia stepped in to host the games in Jakarta and Palembang, moving the event forwards a year to avoid a clash with national elections.

Also, al-Sabah was re-elected for a new four-year term as OCA president after standing unopposed.

The Kuwaiti has headed the OCA since 1991. And is an influential figure in world sport, heading the Association of National Olympic Committees and holding roles on the International Olympic Committee and FIFA.