China will support Incheon’s bid for the 2014 summer Asian Games with a week to go before the final voting, boosting the South Korean city’s confidence to beat New Delhi, India in hosting the quadrennial sports event.

On the second day of his visit to South Korea Wednesday, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao met with Incheon City Mayor Ahn Sang-soo during a meeting with Korean entrepreneurs at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) headquarters in Seoul and said he supports Incheon’s bid. Wen said he will give directions, when he returns to China, to relevant Chinese government agencies to prepare measures to support the city’s bid.

The Chinese premier was also known to have ordered Ning Fukui, China’s ambassador to Seoul, who was present at the KCCI meeting, to work out measures to support the city’s bid to become the third Korean city to host the Asian Games. Seoul and Pusan hosted the Games in 1986 and 2002, respectively.

The winner of the two bidders will be decided at next Wednesday’s general assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in Kuwait. Its 45 member countries cast a single vote in an open ballot to decide the single-majority winner.

China’s official announcement of support will be of much help to Incheon given its regional influence on Hong Kong and Macau, two members of the OCA.

Previously China was known to be backing New Delhi.

South Korean foreign ministry officials in India, who participated in a meeting of foreign ministers in New Delhi in February, told the Incheon bid committee that Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made a remark supporting the Indian city.

Wen visited South Korea on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of China’s establishment of relations with South Korea. He left last night for Japan.

Prior to the final vote, Incheon will hold a 30-minute presentation that includes a video message from President Roh Moo-hyun.

In the presentation, Incheon will also promise to raise $20 million to support Asian countries that have not yet won medals in the Asian Games.

Incheon, with a population of 2.74 million, began preparing its bid to host the 2014 Games in 2005 after receiving approval and support from the government.