A grassroots soccer tournament is held in Southwest China's Guizhou Province. Photos: Courtesy of Cunchao

Some 40 foreign diplomats from 25 countries will go on a tour to Southwest China's Guizhou Province from Thursday to Sunday and play a friendly soccer game with a local team from the Village Super League (VSL), or Cunchao, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), the 2024 Discover China Cultural Tour of Guizhou for Diplomats event will take envoys from Latin American and Caribbean countries to visit the signature Jiaxiu Tower in Guiyang and ethnic Dong villages in Rongjiang county to explore the region's cultural and architectural heritage. 

One of the highlights of this tour will be the friendly game between the diplomats and a local team from the VSL that will kick off on Saturday evening in Rongjiang. 

An international cultural and tourism fair will also be held alongside the match to showcase the integration of culture, tourism, sports, and local economies. 

Liu Quan, deputy head of the international exchange and cooperation division of the ministry, told the Global Times that the tour is designed to emphasize the role of diplomats as cultural ambassadors, promoting exchanges and friendships.

Through this event, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the beauty and richness of China, which they can then share with the world, Liu said. 

Rongjiang county has achieved significant progress in its rural revitalization efforts and economic development by integrating agriculture, culture, tourism, sports, and commerce through the phenomenal VSL. 

This unique soccer+culture showpiece attracted 7.66 million visitors in 2023, generating a total tourism revenue of 8.4 billion yuan ($1.19 billion), the China Culture Daily reported on Monday. This event emphasizes the role of diplomats in fostering cultural exchanges and building stronger bridges of friendship.

Marcelo Gabriel Suarez Salvia, Argentine ambassador to China, told reporters earlier that the tour could help foreign diplomats stationed in China to gain a deeper and more accurate understanding of China's cultural heritage and economic strengths, enhancing opportunities for long-term partnerships between China and other countries.

This engagement fosters mutual appreciation and opens doors for future collaborations in various sectors, including trade, tourism, and more. The fusion of culture, tourism, sports, and agriculture in this trip not only showcases Guizhou's unique natural charm but also paves the way for partnerships and shared learning experiences, said the ambassador.  

Hector Dorbecker, a counselor at the Mexican Embassy in China, said that Mexico and China have already established cooperation in various fields, and he hopes to see further tourism collaboration between the two countries in the future.

"Soccer serves as a bridge for fostering friendship between people of different countries. I believe this event will offer me a more comprehensive understanding of China's culture, tourism, and sports resources," said Dorbecker.

Launched by the MCT in 2021, the program has taken more than 350 diplomats from over 90 countries to 16 provinces and cities across China, including Beijing, Chongqing, Hubei, and Yunnan, allowing them to experience local customs, appreciate China's rich cultural heritage, and observe the country's developments up close.