A delegation led by Wang Jiarui, chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) visited Portugal on Nov 10-11.
Sports culture connects China-Portugal friendship
Wang Jiarui, chairman of the CSCLF, meets with Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Professional Football League, on Nov 10. [Photo/CSCLF]
On Nov 10, Wang Jiarui met with Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Professional Football League.
Wang pointed out that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal. The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the political, economic, trade, cultural, scientific, and military fields have continued to develop, he said. The sports culture represented by football played a positive role in the development of Sino-Portuguese friendship.
"The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation has long been concerned about the training of young football players. In 2018, we jointly organized the 2018 Sino-Portuguese International Children's Cultural Festival along with the Portuguese Football Federation Foundation and the Portuguese Sports Foundation, which opened a new situation for cooperation between the two sides. We are willing to actively promote cooperation with relevant agencies in Portugal, use football culture as a link, promote friendly exchanges between young people of the two countries and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust." Wang said.
Wang Jiarui, chairman of the CSCLF, poses for a photo with Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Professional Football League, with a football in hand. [Photo/CSCLF]
Portuguese football chief Pedro Proenca conveyed a warm welcome to Chairman Wang Jiarui during his visit to Portugal, saying that the Portuguese Professional Football League adhered to the values of "inclusiveness, unity and respect" and had long been actively adopting social responsibilities through the influence of football, players and professional competitions. He also said that the league had a good tradition in administering leagues, training coaches and training young players. The league was willing to play its own part in promoting cultural exchanges between Portugal and China.
A meeting takes place between the CSCLF delegation and the members of the Portuguese Professional Football League. [Photo/CSCLF]
Chinese, Portuguese youth promote friendship through football
Wang Jiarui, chairman of the CSCLF, presents a giant panda doll to a young Portuguese football player. [Photo/CSCLF]
On Nov 11, the Sino-Portuguese youth sports cultural exchange event kicked off at the University of Piaget in Lisbon. The CSCLF delegation led by Wang Jiarui attended the opening ceremony, visited the young players of the two countries and offered them a cute giant panda doll.
President of the University of Piaget delivers a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Portuguese youth sports cultural exchange event on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
President of the Portuguese Sports Foundation delivers a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Portuguese youth sports cultural exchange event on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
President of the University of Piaget and President of the Portuguese Sports Foundation gave a welcoming speech and expressed their eagerness to conduct cultural exchanges to enhance the friendship existing between the both countries.
Jing Dunquan, vice-chairman of the CSCLF, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Portuguese youth sports culture exchange event on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
In his speech, Jing Dunquan, vice-chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, said that in recent years, under the leadership of the leaders of China and Portugal, the friendly cooperative relations between the two countries have further developed. He added that organizing the youth cultural exchange event was implementing the consensus of the two countries' leaders, and an opportunity to strengthen friendly exchanges from a civil perspective.
Portugal's sports football culture enjoys a good reputation in the world, he said. Sports culture as an international element carries peace. The hope was to use youth football cultural exchange activities as a link to continuously deepen the exchanges and cooperation between China and Portugal in the field of sports culture, and to enhance mutual exchange among young people, as well contribute to the friendship between the people of the two countries, Jing added.
Cai Run, Chinese ambassador to Portugal, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Portuguese youth sports cultural exchange event on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
Cai Run, Chinese ambassador to Portugal, said that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Portugal. At present, China-Portugal relations are at their best level in history. High-level exchanges between the two countries have been frequent, and political mutual trust has continued to deepen, he said. The exchange of visits between the heads of state of China and Portugal in less than half a year fully reflected the high level of the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership.
The sports field, especially football industry cooperation, has become an important aspect of exchanges between the two countries, Cai said. It has made positive contributions to promoting the development of bilateral relations. Cai said he believed that with the active efforts of all parties, the sports exchanges and cooperation between the two countries would usher in new developments and harvest fruitful results.
Attendees of the Sino-Portuguese youth sports culture exchange event pose for a group photo. [Photo/CSCLF]
After the opening ceremony, the players from both China and Portugal gathered in the Benfica youth training camp to showcase their football skills and promote friendship.
Young football players exhibit their skills. [Photo/CSCLF]
Young football players put their soccer skills to the test. [Photo/CSCLF]
Build a bridge for civil exchanges and cooperation
On Nov 11, the CSCLF delegation also visited the Champalimaud Foundation. Founded in 2005, the foundation is a well-known Portuguese foundation and biomedical research institution, with significant influence in Europe and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The CSCLF delegation led by Chairman Wang Jiarui pays a visit to the Champalimaud Foundation on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
The CSCLF delegation led by Chairman Wang Jiarui poses for a photo with representatives of the Champalimaud Foundation on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
When Wang Jiarui met with Leonor Beleza, chairman of the Champalimaud Foundation, he pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Portugal 40 years ago, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have undergone a test amid international turmoil over a long period and had proved their reliability. The mutual understanding and trust between the two countries' peoples was a solid foundation for the development of the bilateral relations, he said.
Wang also pointed out that as a new starting point, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation was willing to work with the Champalimaud Foundation to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of the two states and strengthen cooperation in the fields of medicine and health, especially pediatric medicine, clinical medicine, scientific research, etc.
Exchanges and cooperation would serve as a bridge to promote mutual understanding and friendship, promote non-governmental friendly cooperation and continuously achieve new results -- and jointly make positive contributions to the well-being of the people of the two countries, he added.
Wang Jiarui poses for a photo with a representative of the Champalimaud Foundation on Nov 11. [Photo/CSCLF]
Leonor Beleza, chairman of the Champalimaud Foundation, conveyed his warm welcome to Wang Jiarui and said that the important influence of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation was well-known. He said his foundation attached great importance to the development of the cooperative relationship with the CSCLF.
The Champalimaud Foundation brings together experts in biology, medicine and clinical fields from all over the world. It is actively engaged in cancer prevention and treatment, neuroscience research and research into the prevention of blindness and clinical practice. Beleza said was to be hoped that the two sides would strengthen cooperation in the fields of medical staff training, scientific research and humanitarian endeavors in the future, building a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the Portuguese and Chinese foundations.
Chinese representatives pose for a group photo with representatives of the Champalimaud Foundation. [Photo/CSCLF]
Cai Run, Chinese ambassador to Portugal; Jing Dunquan, vice-chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Tang Jiuhong, deputy secretary-general of the CSCLF, attended the activities.
