The opening ceremony of the 2024 C&D Xiamen Marathon on Jan 7. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
Thirty-eight individuals from Xiamen's international sister cities, including Mokpo in the Republic of Korea (ROK), Penang in Malaysia, and Wellington in New Zealand, as well as the international friendly exchange city of Pyeongtaek in ROK, visited Xiamen from Jan 5 to 9.
One of the events they participated in was the 2024 C&D Xiamen Marathon.
The marathon participants from Xiamen's sister cities and international friendly exchange city embarked on the Xiamen marathon with great enthusiasm, showcasing their resilient and optimistic spirits.
Among the participants were four athletes from Penang who completed the marathon within three hours. Meanwhile, a Wellington couple joined forces to not only participate in the Xiamen marathon but also surpass their individual best records.
Yao Jianhong, deputy director general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen Municipal People's Government, attended the event on Jan 7 and interacted guests and participants.
Participants praised the efforts made by Xiamen in organizing high-level international events and developing itself into a modern and internationally renowned city with a high-quality and attractive environment.
This is the first time since the pandemic that major cities with which Xiamen regularly communicates with have sent representatives to participate in a physical event. This was the 13th time participants from Mokpo and Penang, and the 12th time participants from Pyeongtaek had formed delegations to visit Xiamen.
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.
