China-ASEAN yacht race to open in November

The inaugural China-ASEAN yacht race is set to kick off in November in Guangxi.

As one of the sports events designed under the Belt and Road Initiative, the race will include sailing teams from most Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The event is also expected to expand in the future to involve more countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

Mitime Sports briefs the preparations of the China-ASEAN yacht race during a sports event presentation held in Beijing on Jan 9, 2019. [Photo provided to China Plus]

Race organizer Mitime Sports general manager Ye Jianhua says "the China-ASEAN yacht race was designed back in 2017 under the General Administration of Sport of China and will be the longest yacht race not only in China but the whole Asian Pacific region."

"We also want to use this opportunity to set up yacht clubs and training bases in Guangxi to introduce the whole yacht industry into the area."

The first edition of the race will start from Nanning and end in Singapore.

The race also aims at enhancing cultural exchange among the Belt and Road countries.

The inaugural Chinese Sailing League also opened last October, marking the professionalization of yacht racing in China.

Sailors compete in the yacht race of the inaugural Chinese Sailing League Weifang Station on Oct 26, 2018. [Photo: IC]