The Malta Independent 8 November 2024, Friday
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China-Malta Sports Exchange Friendly Series sees first event held

Monday, 7 October 2024, 18:09 Last update: about 1 month ago

On the afternoon of October 6, the first basketball match of the "National Day Celebration: China-Malta Sports Exchange Friendly Series" took place at the Pembroke Basketball Stadium in the eastern city of Malta, the China-Malta Culture and Sports Exchange Promotion Association said.

The event was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Malta and organized by the China-Malta Culture and Sports Exchange Promotion Association. In a statement, the association said that the event attracted several basketball teams to participate.
Before the game, Peng Yijun, Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Malta, delivered a speech. "He said that, in the 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta, the strong bond between the people of both nations has been a key foundation of their friendship. Both China and Malta have rich histories and cultures, and there is great potential for deeper cultural and sports exchanges between the two peoples," the association said.

"This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Malta's independence, and Peng highlighted that sports exchanges serve as an important bridge to enhance mutual understanding between the two countries. He expressed hope for further promoting people-to-people connections through cultural and sports exchanges with Malta."

Edgar Caruana Montaldo, President of Pembroke Luxol Sports Club, also spoke at the event. "He noted the positive impact that the Chinese community has had on the city of Pembroke in recent years and expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Malta for its strong support of this series of events. He hopes that more members of the Chinese community will participate in sports to help foster the development of a more diverse and inclusive community," the statement read.

Before the match, both teams exchanged jerseys and gifts. During halftime, the organizers held a three-point and two-point shooting contest.
Zhang Da, President of the China-Malta Culture and Sports Exchange Promotion Association, said that cultural and sports exchanges are an important bridge for deepening the friendship between the peoples of China and Malta. He expressed his confidence that by hosting the "National Day Celebration: China-Malta Sports Exchange Friendly Series," the event would further strengthen the friendship between the two nations.

As the first event of series, "this event has laid a solid foundation for the upcoming four-city football invitational tournament and swimming competitions," the statement read.

 

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