On Saturday, Egypt's ministry of sports and youth announced the launch of the Egyptian Dragon Boat Federation (EDBF), which is expected to deepen ties between Egypt and China in the sports field.
On this basis, three dragon boats with dozens of paddlers onboard were racing in the Nile river and greeting the attendees with cheers and drums.
During the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang made an official statement that was read to the attendees, conveying his happiness with the founding of an Egyptian federation for the Chinese 2,000-year-old water sport.
Responding to the event, Liqiang said: "As we celebrate today the official recognition of dragon boat in Egypt, we celebrate at the same time the communication and integration between the two cultures."
Moreover, Liao expressed his expectation that the step would also deepen relations and enhance friendship between the two countries, according to Chinese news agencies.
On the other hand, IDBF President Mike Thomas sent a video speech to the ceremony, congratulating Egypt on the establishment of the dragon boat federation and expecting the North African country to contribute to spreading the sport in Africa and the Arab world.
Lately, the EDBF has been approved by the Egyptian sports minister and recognized by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).
According to the IDBF, this step will help promoting and further growing the sport throughout the continent. It will also help in establishing a stronger bond among the countries of the Nile Basin while encouraging people-to-people diplomacy.
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