The capital city of Heilongjiang province was also keen to host the 2010 Winter Games but failed to make the candidate shortlist in August 2002.
"GAS suggested Harbin not launch the bid for the 2018 Winter Games because there was very little chance of success," Li Chunlei told Reuters. "The timing is premature. Beijing just hosted a Summer Olympics last year.
“We had failed a bid of the 2010 Games. A second failure in succession would harm our future chances."
In September, sports minister Liu Peng said GAS would back a bid from any enthusiastic city. Cities must inform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of their interest in bidding for the 2018 Games by Thursday with a winner announced in 2011.
