LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said here on Monday that Milan will share experiences with Beijing in the preparation for hosting the Winter Olympic Games.

Milan and neibouring city Cortina were elected host of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the 134th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday. Beijing is the host of the 2022 edition.

Sala, 61, told Xinhua, "It will be a great honor to receive the Olympic flag at the closing cerenomy of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2022.

"For sure it (the Winter Games) will be an occasion to disscuss with them, to learn suggestions and to share the experiences."

He said the Winter Olympic Games will serve a great chance to foster cooperation with China as well as the Universal Exposition.

Sala was the CEO of the 2015 Universal Exposition in Milan from June 2010 to December 2015. Coincidently, Shanghai hosted the 2010 Expo.

"I love China," he said. "I spent many many weeks in Shanghai from my previous career. For the same reason, there will be lot of cooperation with China."

Milan/Cortina beat Sweden's Stockhom/Are 47-34 in a vote by the IOC members, earning a chance for Italy to host the Winter Olympic Games for the second time since Turin 2006. Beijing, who hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008, will become first city in the world to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.