On October 9, the Guangxi-Guangdong Sports Industry Exchange Conference was held in Guilin, China, marking a pivotal moment for sports collaboration in the region. One of the standout moments of the event was the unveiling of the Hong Kong Football Association Training Base in Guangxi.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Ho Kai-shan, President of the Hong Kong Football Association and Vice Chairman of the Ho Ying Tong Group, who attended the conference. He underscored the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This is the first time the Hong Kong Football Association has partnered with Guangxi to establish a football training base. It will provide training facilities for coaches and referees of youth football teams from both genders, enhancing skill exchanges among the teams and ultimately elevating the competition level. We are excited to strengthen our cooperation with Guangxi’s sports institutions to nurture exceptional sports talent.”

The conference also saw the signing of several key agreements, including a framework for sports exchange between the Sports Bureau of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the government’s cultural, sports, and tourism bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Additionally, the Guangxi Sports Federation and the Hong Kong Football Association signed a cooperation memorandum, while the Guilin Sports Federation entered into a memorandum of cooperation with the Eastern District Sports Association of Hong Kong. The event culminated in the exchange of memorabilia to commemorate these milestones.

Furthermore, Mr. Gan Yonghui, Deputy Director of the Guangxi Sports Bureau, highlighted the region’s innovative strides in the sports sector. “Guangxi is leading the way with the country’s first sports resource trading platform targeting ASEAN countries. We are developing a brand centered around ‘Green Eco-Sports in Guangxi’ and have hosted internationally recognized events, including the Guangxi World Tour and the Belt and Road International Sailing Regatta. This year alone, over 30 national and international teams have trained in Guangxi, and we have hosted events such as the Olympic selection trials for the national archery team. Our training facilities in Wuzhou, Guilin, Beihai, and Hezhou are becoming a prime destination for winter training in southern China. We hope to establish a long-term cooperative framework with Hong Kong in various areas, including sports industry development, football growth, event organization, and youth sports training, to drive quality sports development in both regions.”

Later that evening, the Guangxi U20 men’s football team faced off against the Hong Kong U20 men’s football team in a friendly match.