Distinguished guests, sponsor representatives, athletes, sports enthusiasts,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning everyone.

It is my great pleasure, on the invitation of the German-Chinese Sports and Culture Club, to join you here in Düsseldorf — widely known as the Heart of Europe — for the official opening of the 2026 Düsseldorf Li-Ning Badminton Cup. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Düsseldorf, I extend a very warm welcome and my sincere gratitude to athletes and officials from all participating countries and regions, as well as to every friend who has long supported and promoted sports exchanges between China and Germany.

Badminton is a sport that blends grace and power, speed and tactical intelligence. Far more than a competitive game, it has evolved into a vibrant global sporting culture. Originating in Europe and flourishing across Asia, it unites communities and players of all ages worldwide. The values it embodies — respect for opponents, adherence to rules, and humility in both victory and defeat — resonate perfectly with the universal sporting ideals of fairness, friendship and progress. Today, competitors from more than a dozen countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark and Slovenia have gathered here to compete in good spirit and share their passion for the game. This gathering stands as a wonderful testament to how sport crosses borders and brings people closer.

Sport is a universal language. It builds bridges between cultures and strengthens mutual understanding and trust between nations. Though geographically distant, China and Germany share a long-standing and fruitful history of sports cooperation, marked by continuous exchanges and vibrant collaboration. Amid an increasingly complex global landscape, Sino-German relations have maintained steady growth, with people-to-people and sporting exchanges serving as a uniquely valuable and irreplaceable source of goodwill. As we always emphasise, strong bilateral relations are built not only through government dialogue, but also through genuine friendship and mutual affinity between ordinary people. This badminton tournament may be a single sporting event, yet it carries profound meaning for cross-cultural communication and lasting friendship between our societies. It is both a sporting contest and a living example of civilisational dialogue and grassroots friendship.

Now entering its seventh edition, the Li-Ning Badminton Cup has become a much-anticipated annual fixture for the local Chinese community and German badminton lovers alike. This event would not be possible without the generous support of overseas Chinese associations, Chinese enterprises, and the tireless efforts of all volunteers and organisers. I wish to express my deepest appreciation and highest respect to everyone involved.

It is our sincere hope that this tournament will further deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and German peoples, bringing fresh positivity and momentum to the ongoing development of bilateral relations. We remain confident that, grounded in the principles of mutual respect, equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit, Sino-German cooperation across all fields will continue to go from strength to strength.

Finally, I wish every athlete the very best of competition. May you showcase outstanding sportsmanship, deliver excellent performances, and take home valuable friendship and precious memories.

May the 2026 Düsseldorf Li-Ning Badminton Cup be a great success!

Thank you.