Article by H. E. YanXiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados

Sports, as the universal language of humanity, not only showcase the great spirit of breaking limits but also carries the splendid dreams of national prosperity and ethnic rejuvenation. China, adhering to development ideology centered on the people, has transitioned comprehensively from a major sports country to a world sports power, achieving remarkable success in the field. China vigorously implements a national strategy for fitness-for-all, and as of the end of 2023, the nation boasted 4.59 million sports venues, an average of 2.89 square meters of sports venues per capita, and over 400 million regular participants in sports activities, making sports an integral part of the healthy and happy life of the Chinese people. China actively organizes competitive sports, hosting events such as the National Games and undertaking international competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese athletes have won 3,913 world championships and set 1,397 world records. The total scale of China’s sports industry has repeatedly reached new highs, with an expected value surpassing 5 trillion RMB by 2025, providing momentum and contributing to the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern country.

Sports serve as a bridge for friendship and peace, providing an effective means to promote dialogue, understanding, and connectivity among different peoples and civilizations. In recent years, under the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and Barbados, sports exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have deepened, yielding fruitful results. In 2017, China completed and delivered the renovation project of the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex to Barbados, which has become one of the island’s most important cultural and sports activity centers. In 2020, the Embassy of the PRC in Barbados collaborated with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment of Barbados to create the “Chinese Ambassador Sports Fund.” This fund offers financial aid for Barbadian athletes’ training, organized sports events, and grassroots sports development. In 2022, an exchange of notes on the China-Aid National Stadium Redevelopment project was signed by China and Barbados, which is expected to become a new landmark in Barbados and a new benchmark for China-Barbados friendship upon completion. In 2023, Mr. Wu Cong, a Chinese-designated table tennis coach to Barbados, led the Barbadian national table tennis team to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Games pre-qualifiers and the Caribbean Championships. They achieved excellent results of third place in the men’s team category twice, continuing the legend of China-Barbados table tennis friendship.

For a tree to grow tall and luxuriant, its roots must run deep and strong. For a source to flow long and enduringly, its origins must be profound and abundant. The people of China and Barbados both love sports and pursue healthy lifestyles, indicating broad prospects for cooperation in the field of sports between our two countries. We believe that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, inspired by the vision of a community of shared future for mankind, pragmatic cooperation in the field of sports between China and Barbados will surely yield even more fruitful results, benefiting both our two countries and peoples! (PR)