Crossing Oceans, Going Global

In accordance with the requirements of the General Administration of Sport of China to enhance international exchanges and cooperation at a high level, and in line with Sichuan's '123456' sports strategy, to further promote international exchanges and cooperation in shooting and to perpetuate the legacy of Sichuan's shooting sport, during the Shooting World Cup, the Sichuan Administration Center of Shooting and Archery Sports, together with the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the Italian Target Shooting Federation, formally held a signing ceremony for a strategic cooperation agreement in Ningbo on the morning of 8 September. Attending the ceremony were Luciano Rossi, President of the ISSF and President of the Italian Target Shooting Federation; Liang Chun, Director of the Shooting and Archery Sports Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China and President of the Chinese Shooting Association; Wang Yifu, Vice-President of the ISSF and Vice-President of the Chinese Shooting Association; Chen Xingdong, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhou Yun, Vice-Mayor of Zigong Municipal People's Government; and Zhang Shan, Barcelona Olympic champion. During the ceremony, both Chinese and Italian representatives friendly exchanged extensive, in-depth discussions on future collaboration initiatives. During the meeting, Liang Chun, Director of the Shooting and Archery Sports Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China, and Chen Xingdong, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, respectively delivered their addresses, expressing their deep gratitude to the ISSF and the Italian Target Shooting Federation. Reviewing Sichuan's historical achievements in shooting, they stated that Sichuan would take this Sino-Italian cooperation as an opportunity to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation within the global shooting community, promote the popularisation and development of the sport in Sichuan as well as nationwide, enabling more people to discover the charm of shooting, while offering Sichuan's contribution to the international shooting movement. Mr. Luciano Rossi, President of the ISSF and President of the Italian Target Shooting Federation, in his address, acknowledged the significant contributions of Chinese shooting to the global shooting movement. He particularly highlighted the pioneering impact of outstanding athletes such as Wang Yifu and Zhang Shan on the development of international shooting sports. This partnership heralds a new era for shooting sports across Sichuan. Together, we are confident in establishing a premier platform for athletes worldwide to showcase their talents, promoting the dissemination and integration of shooting across diverse cultures, and inspiring more people to discover the charm of the sport. Ultimately, this will foster the sustainable development of the global shooting movement. We also wish the Chinese team further success at the Olympic Games. Witnessed by all parties, the Sichuan Administration Center of Shooting and Archery Sports and the Italian Target Shooting Federation formally signed this strategic cooperation agreement. This agreement will drive profound collaboration between China and Italy in the future, encompassing cooperation in international competitions, talent exchange within the sport, and the promotion of the sports industry. Forging a solid bridge of mutual appreciation and friendly exchanges between Chinese and foreign cultures through sport, it shall accelerate the internationalisation and high-end enhancement of Sichuan's shooting development, bringing fresh energy to the international cooperation of China's shooting sports.