On August 12 and 13, Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports jointly held the 2023 Football Tournament for Foreign Nationals in Beijing as part of their solid efforts to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era through thematic education campaign. The event took place at Yinghai Football Theme Park in Daxing District, featuring eight teams representing two foreign embassies in China, five universities in Beijing, and the British Chamber of Commerce in China. A total of 140 players from 44 countries including Cambodia, UK, and Cameroon participated in the tournament.

For the first time, the Football Tournament for Foreign Nationals in Beijing was included in the Beijing Community Cup Eight-a-side Football Tournament, a city-level social football event. After three rounds of fierce competition, the international teams from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, Capital University of Economics and Business, and Beijing Institute of Technology secured the first, second, and third place respectively.

A player from the Vietnamese Embassy in China said he enjoyed the atmosphere of the tournament. Everyone had a good time and he was also glad to connect with other teams, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful communication.

Charles Williams from the British Chamber of Commerce in China expressed his delight in participation. He noted that the event was well-organized, serving as a sports tournament and a platform to foster friendships.

Akiringo Matala, a student from Gabon studying at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, mentioned that he had done a lot of training for the tournament and felt very proud to win the first place. He also expressed hope for more similar activities in the future, and his desire for participation.

On the Field

The Football Tournament for Foreign Nationals in Beijing is one of the city’s initiatives to further enhance its international environment and improve its capacity to provide high-quality services for foreign nationals. Prior to this, Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office conducted extensive research to thoroughly understand the needs of foreign nationals working and living in Beijing. Building upon the findings, the Office organized diverse activities including football tournaments, to build a communication platform for foreign nationals in Beijing. The aim is to create enabling international communities for their life and work, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging.

This tournament also received support from the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions (BDS), Beijing Municipal Education Commission, and Beijing Investment Promotion Service Center.