Qingdao's Sailing Event, the Fareast Cup International Regatta, Wins "Best Competition Organization" Award, Putting China on the World Stage

The Fareast Cup Won the "Best Competition Organization" Award at the Eastern Economic Forum

VLADIVOSTOK,Russia,Sept. 13,2018 -- Yesterday afternoon,at the 4th Eastern Economic Forum held in Vladivostok,Qingdao's sailing event,The Fareast Cup International Regatta,was awarded the "Best Competition Organization" Award in the sailing sector. As the leading Asian city for competitive sailing,Qingdao,which was granted the Award for Outstanding Contributions to World Sailing Development by World Sailing in 2015,has once again obtained remarkable achievements in the field of sailing and navigation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping,Russian President Vladimir Putin and various other state leaders attended the award ceremony. Zang Aimin,Vice President of the Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organizing Committee,and the native Qingdao sailor Gao Jun,the representative of Fareast Cup,shook hands with President Xi on stage and received the trophy from Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga. After the award ceremony,President Xi,President Putin and many other state leaders took photos with the winners.

Founded in 2016 by the Chinese Yachting Association and the Qingdao Major International Sailing Events (Festivals) Organizing Committee,this challenging offshore sailing event has filled the void in the international sailing rally in the Far East and is gaininggreater international awareness and reputation. This year,the Fareast Cup,which actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative,took advantage of the Sino-Russian exchange year and opened a new route between Qingdao and Vladivostok. The event was incorporated in the sailing sector of the 4th Eastern Economic Forum.

The relationship between countries depends on the friendship of their people,and the friendship of people depends on their commonalities in thinking. Because of their like-mindedness and similar interests,sailing enthusiasts from China and Russia have raised the sails of friendship in the Fareast Cup and sailed towards a bright future.

The day will come when we overcome all difficulties and blocks and achieve our dreams. As the host city with the most international major sailing events in Asia,Qingdao is making every effort to build and develop its own world-renowned events.

After the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition,Qingdao has achieved fruitful results in sailing events,sailing promotion and the sailing industrythrough active promotion ofthe Olympic spirit and continuing to inherit the Olympic legacy,polishing its golden signboard as the Sailing City.

As one of China's first open coastal cities,Qingdao has undergone tremendous changes during the 40 years of reform and opening up. In 2016,it became the twelfth city in China with a total GDP of over one trillion yuan. After successfully hosting the SCO Summit in June this year,Qingdao entered the ranks of world renowned international metropolises.