From September 12 to 14, 2025, the Third Event of “Diplomats' Sailing Invitational Regatta" was successfully held in Qinhuangdao City, Hebei province. More than 70 diplomats from 12 countries, including Estonia, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Spain and Cuba etc., formed teams to participate the event. Director General of Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions Zhou Xisong, Secretary of Qinhuangdao Municipal Party Committee Wang Xi, Chairman of Hebei Port Group Co., Ltd. Cao Ziyu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions Lu Xiaohui, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Hebei Province and Executive Vice President of Hebei People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Du Haicang, and Deputy Mayor of Qinhuangdao City Han Kai attended the event.

Group photo of diplomats stationed in China at the Sailing Regatta

As an institutionalized international sports event jointly initiated by Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions, the People’s Government of Qinhuangdao Municipality, and Hebei Port Group Co., Ltd., the Diplomats' Sailing Invitational Regatta is intended to showcase China's development achievements in the new era and promote the main theme of peace and development by using sailing as a link to foster international exchange and cooperation, promoting the achievements of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration coordinated development. Having been held for three consecutive years since 2023, it has received active participation and warm welcome from the diplomatic missions in China.

Director General Zhou Xisong delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, expressing gratitude to the Qinhuangdao Municipal Party Committee, the Qinhuangdao Municipal People’s Government, and the Hebei Port Group Co., Ltd. for the great support. He said that in today’s increasingly complex and turbulent world, peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit represent the shared aspiration of humanity and the prevailing trend of our times. He hoped that all the diplomats would embrace the spirit of sports—collaboration, courage and unity—to jointly steer the helm of peace and set sail on the voyage of friendship, get close to the inclusiveness of China's economy and its vast development prospects. He also encouraged the guests to deeply explore opportunities for cooperation with Qinhuangdao, actively promote exchanges and collaboration across various fields, and foster common development.

Deputy Mayor Han Kai pointed out that Qinhuangdao is one of China’s first coastal open cities and an important port city. As the cradle of China's sailing sport, it boasts of rich experience in organizing events. The Diplomats' Sailing Invitational Regatta has built a platform for international sailing exchange, showcasing the charm of Qinhuangdao city in all aspects. He hoped that this event would actively advance exchanges and cooperation between Qinhuangdao and various countries in the areas of economy, trade, culture, sports, and international sister cities.

Deputy General Manager of Hebei Port Group Co., Ltd. Li Guanjun stated that with the guidance of "Ocean-oriented development and prosperity" strategy, the Group has been engaged in building a three-dimensional open platform linking sea, land, and air ports, which transforms industrial coastlines into open coastlines facing the sea related to life, ecological, and events. As a flagship of "integrating port, industry, and city, with culture, tourism, and sports setting the stage," the Diplomats' Sailing Invitational Regatta helps Qinhuangdao International Port become a world-class "guest room" .

Diplomats in China participated in the Sailing Regatta

H.E. Hannes Hanso, the Estonian Ambassador to China, noted that both Estonia and China share a strong belief in the value of wider openness to the world. This regatta is not only a sports event but also a platform to promote the spirit of cooperation, trust, and friendship. H.E. Andrey Tehov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to China, expressed that the shared future of humanity binds all nations together although the cultures are different, which is destined for us to help each other in weathering the storms of turbulent times hand in hand. The sailing regatta serves as a bond to further deepen our friendship.

The participant diplomats also visited the Qinhuangdao Kaibudi West Port Terminal to witness the high-quality development practice of transforming industrial heritage into urban cultural and tourism landmarks. They visited the Shanhaiguan Museum of the Great Wall of China, experiencing the cohesion of the Chinese nation and achievements in Great Wall heritage preservation. They had test drive of Chinese new energy vehicles, learning China's smart EV innovation technologies and its green development method. Amazed by Qinhuangdao's achievements in its open development, traditional industrial transformation, and building a world-class port, the diplomats noted that China could offer positive energy and certainty into global development with its rapid progress across various fields, strong stable economy, broad prospects and huge potentiality.

Learning how the Great Wall's culture has been preserved and handed down

Test driving Chinese-made new energy vehicles

Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions

September 24, 2025