Dalian Municipal Government and FISU Hold Work Exchange on Sports Development

Dalian Municipal Government and FISU Hold Work Exchange on Sports Development

Chen Shaowang and Leonz Eder Attend

On September 18, Chen Shaowang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Dalian Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Dalian Municipal Government, met with Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), and his delegation at Bangchui Island Hotel. The two sides held a work exchange on deepening practical cooperation between Dalian and FISU.

On behalf of the CPC Dalian Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government, Chen Shaowang extended a warm welcome to the guests for their visit to Dalian, their guidance, and attendance at the opening ceremony of the 2025 FISU University World Cup Football. He also briefed the delegation on the city’ s football development and preparations for major sporting events.

Mr. Chen Shaowang stated.

Dalian, renowned as China’s “City of Football,” is home to abundant higher education resources and a football community of over 500,000. It is one of the first national “pilot regions for youth football talent development reform” and “the comprehensive high-standard reform pilot zone for youth campus football.” It has successfully hosted a range of international and domestic tournaments, including FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and Chinese Super League matches. Notably, the inaugural FISU University World Cup Football, held in Dalian last year, won high praise from FISU and participating teams worldwide.

Mr. Chen Shaowang stated.

As the world’s top-tier university football competition, the FISU University World Cup Football takes place in Dalian for the first time this year, underscoring FISU’s recognition of the city’s football development and organizational capacity.

Dalian attaches great importance to the tournament’ s preparations. Under the guidance of FISU and in line with the requirements of China’ s Ministry of Education and Liaoning Provincial authorities, efforts have been made to optimize service support, ensure security, and foster a welcoming atmosphere. Through a diverse range of cultural, sports, and tourism activities, athletes from around the world will be able to experience the richness of Chinese traditional culture, the unique charm of Dalian, and the vitality of its urban development, further promoting cultural exchanges between Dalian and more countries and regions.

He expressed the hope that FISU would continue to provide guidance in event organization, help establish a regular exchange mechanism, and support Dalian in hosting more major international events. He also encouraged closer cooperation between FISU member institutions and universities in Dalian to advance the city’ s high-quality development of higher education and sports sectors.

Leonz Eder highly commended the preparations for the 2025 FISU University World Cup Football and thanked Dalian for its dedicated efforts. He noted that the successful opening ceremony sets the stage for even more exciting tournaments ahead, providing athletes with a memorable experience. Eder emphasized that FISU looks forward to using this event as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with Dalian, support the city in hosting additional high-level competitions, and invite Dalian universities to participate in FISU’ s “Healthy Campus” program. He added that FISU is committed to harnessing the power of youth sports to promote peace and development worldwide, while also helping to showcase Dalian globally, build bridges of friendship, and enhance cultural exchange.

Also present were Guo Tiejun, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Dalian Municipal Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; Liu Jin, Vice President of FISU; Shen Zhen, FISU Chief Sports Officer; and Bertrand Fincoeur, Senior Manager for FISU Education and Culture Affairs.