On September 21, the “Youth Marching Together to Create a Future” - 2024 Hubei-Taiwan Youth Sports Exchange, jointly hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government and Wuhan Sports University, was held at WHSU.

Zhang Danqing, Deputy Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government, announced the opening of the event.

Zhang Biao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and Vice President of WHSU, delivered a welcome speech. He expressed that sports are not only a display of competition but also a bridge for cultural exchange. Through participating in a variety of sports and cultural activities, youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have enhanced their understanding, deepened their friendships, and seen the broad prospects and infinite possibilities for exchanges and cooperation between youth on both sides. He hoped that youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait would learn from each other and make progress together during the exchange, injecting youthful vitality into the beautiful picture of “people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of the same family.”

At the opening ceremony, WHSU teachers and students presented a splendid performance, showcasing their youthful vitality through cheerleading, martial arts displays, and fitness and bodybuilding routines, which earned rounds of applause from the audience.

The exchange was divided into three sections: competitive sports competitions, sports experience activities, and a sports-themed ethnic art garden party. Competitive sports competitions included basketball and Go matches, where youth from Hubei and Taiwan competed on the court and chessboard, breaking through their own limits while also fostering friendships.

During the halftime break, youth from Hubei and Taiwan engaged in an exciting dunk and shooting contest. The atmosphere was lively and filled with continuous cheers and applause.

During the sports experience session, the main activities included dragon boat racing, canoeing, paddleboarding, and rock climbing. The novel experience brought joy to everyone and also enhanced team cohesion.

At the sports-themed ethnic art garden party, youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait actively participated in games such as pickleball, making fragrant sachets and lacquer fans, and arrow-throwing into vases, immersing themselves in the charm of traditional culture.

Zhang Xurui, a Taiwanese student admitted to WHSU in 2024, said that the lively atmosphere of the event made him further appreciate the charm of sports culture and increased his anticipation for his upcoming university life. “I hope to participate in more practical activities such as competitions and make progress in my studies.”

Zhang Bingkai, a Taiwanese student admitted to the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), experienced archery, football, pickleball, and other sports with his mainland classmates. He said that he has been in Wuhan for less than half a month and is not yet familiar with the surrounding environment. However, this event made him feel the friendliness and warmth of his mainland classmates, and gained him many friends.

According to the person in charge of the Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office, the purpose of organizing this event is to deeply study and promote the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech regarding Taiwan-related work, further enhance exchanges, interactions, and integration between youth from Hubei and Taiwan, promote the joint inheritance and promotion of Chinese traditional culture by youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and work together to advance the peaceful and integrated development of cross-strait relations.

More than 120 participants attended the event, including Chang Hsiao-yin, Secretary General of Taiwan Go Education and Development Association; Wu Zhirong, Vice President of the Wuhan Taiwan Enterprises Association and Chairman of its Youth Committee; Liao Boyuan, another Vice President of the Wuhan Taiwan Enterprises Association; representatives from relevant departments such as the Department of Education of Hubei Province, Hubei Administration of Sport, and the CPC Hongshan District Committee; as well as Taiwanese teachers, students, and young entrepreneurs and employees in Wuhan from universities such as Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and Central China Normal University.