Published on: 2026-06-11
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Vologda /Russia/, June 11 /Xinhua/ — An international martial arts tournament between teams from China and Russia officially started on Wednesday evening at the ‘Vologda’ Sports Palace in the city of Vologda, Vologda Region.
Athletes from the Vologda region and the province of Shaanxi / Northwest China participated in the competition, which contributed to deepening sports exchange and strengthening friendship between the peoples.
The Ambassador of China to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, stated at the opening ceremony of the tournament that in recent years, Sino-Russian relations have been developing at a high level into an all-encompassing partnership and strategic interaction. Interaction in the sports sphere brings impressive results.
“Martial arts, as the jewel of traditional Chinese culture, embody Eastern wisdom expressed in the principle ‘through martial arts — to friendship’ and ‘achieving harmony with respect for diversity.’ They have become an important connecting link between the peoples of China and Russia, promoting the strengthening of mutual understanding, cohesion, and friendly ties,” said the Chinese ambassador.
He also pleasantly noted that martial arts are widely popular in Russia: more than 300 thousand people of various ages practice them, among whom there are quite a few world and European champions. “This means that martial arts already occupy a strong place in the sports and cultural life of Russia,” said Zhang Hanxue.
The governor of the Vologda region, Georgy Filimonov, in turn, noted that this tournament is an important step towards deepening the cooperation of the Vologda region with China. According to him, the sports potential in the region is steadily growing. For the Vologda region, wushu and other Chinese martial arts have become part of the sports and cultural tradition. “Among the new projects is the ‘Wushu in Schools’ program, which by 2030 will cover 310 schools in the region — more than 130,000 students,” said the governor.
Being an athlete and a multiple champion of Russia, Europe, and the world in martial arts, G. Filimonov has a personal story connected with wushu. “I know that wushu is a sport for intellectuals and winners. Our task is to ensure that wushu and other martial arts develop in the region and become more accessible for children and youth,” said the head of the Vologda region of Russia.
It is reported that this tournament will be extended by two days — until June 11. Dozens of Chinese and Russian athletes will compete in disciplines such as Wushu-Taolu and Wushu-Sanda.
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