A delegation of marathon runners from two South Korean cities visits Xiamen, Fujian province on Jan 6 to attend the 2019 Xiamen International Marathon. [Photo/fo.xm.gov.cn]
A delegation of marathon runners from two South Korean cities visited Xiamen, Fujian province on Jan 6 to attend the 2019 Xiamen International Marathon.
Runners from the Chinese city's sister-city Mokpo and friendly-exchange city Pyeongtaek all successfully finished their races.
Li Xiaoping, director of Xiamen's Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, met with the delegation after the Xiamen marathon.
Li congratulated the South Korean runners on their successful completion of the race.
He said that after 16 years of development, the Xiamen event has grown into one of the most world-renowned urban marathons and its host city Xiamen was named the Marathon City by the Chinese Athletics Association in 2018.
These achievements are inseparable from the support of its sister cities and friendly-exchange cities, added the director.
The two South Korean cities has dispatched their runners to attend the Xiamen marathon for 11 consecutive years and Li hopes they will invite more local marathon runners to attend the annual Xiamen event and boost the development of friendly relations between Xiamen and South Korea.
Heads of the delegation, Kim Young Rae and Choe Chong Mun, praised Xiamen for its attempts in organizing large-scale sport events and creating a beautiful environment.
They also invited the Chinese city to continue sending local athletes for the Mokpo Throwing Competition and Pyeongtaek Marathon.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
