Jiangsu kicked off the 2022 Belt and Road Youth Sports Exchange Week in Nanjing on July 12, including the start of a basketball 3x3 tournament as part of the event.

The exchange week has been held in the coastal province for three consecutive years. In addition to the basketball match, it also includes an outdoor sports challenge and an orienteering program.

(Photo/Wan Chengpeng)

This exchange week has attracted 198 participants from 55 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including those foreigners studying or working in Nanjing.

Bouaphat Phoutthavong, consul general of Laos in Shanghai, said in his video speech that the program helps create a good exchange platform for youths and promotes economic and people-to-people exchanges between Laos and Jiangsu.

Chu Chu, a teacher at the College of International Students of the Southeast University, has led students to attend the program for three years in a row. She said the students are very eager to participate in the event, which improves their social skills and Chinese language proficiency, and also makes new friends.