Russian, Chinese sport ministries sign memorandum of mutual understanding, cooperation

MOSCOW. May 24 (Interfax) - Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin and his Chinese counterpart Gao Zhidan have signed a bilateral memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation, the press service for the Russian Sports Ministry said.

The bilateral document envisages broader and stronger relations in sports and physical education.

The Russian and Chinese sports officials signed the memorandum in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese State Council Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of Russian-Chinese negotiations in Beijing.

"Sports cooperation with China has a solid, long-standing foundation. We respect each other's interests, share practices, react to new challenges, and are forging the present and future of sports in our countries. The Russian-Chinese youth games are proof of this. For 17 years, Russian and Chinese athletes have been gaining experience from competitions and learning how to respect their rivals, to win, and to learn from defeats," Matytsin said.

"Our interaction with Chinese colleagues has been constantly expanding. We give considerable attention to the training of personnel, scientific exchanges, and the development of mass sport. The memorandum on cooperation is part of the general foreign policy strategy mapped out by Russian President Vladimir Putin. I am sure that the implementation of the memorandum's provisions will give a significant impetus to the further development of our professional and friendly relations in sport," he said.

It was noted that the memorandum applied to high-achievement sports, non-Olympic and national sports, mass sports, youth sports, 'phygital' sports, Paralympic sports, sports science and education, sports technologies, and anti-doping measures.

The memorandum envisages regular interaction in sports matters, meetings of sport sub-commissions, the broader exchange of practices and information between public institutions, sport federations and educational establishments, and sporting and official events.

Russia's Sakhalin will host the Russian-Chinese winter games in 2024. Athletes will compete in ten winter sports.