Players read the schedule of the 2016 Straits Cup Women's Softball Invitational, after arriving at Pingtan, Fujian province, on May 5. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The 2016 Straits Cup Women's Softball Invitational started in Pingtan, Fujian province, as participating teams arrived on May 5, ptnet.cn reported. The matches will run until May 10.

Four teams, two from the Chinese mainland and two from Taiwan, are taking part in the game. The mainland's teams come from Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces, and the Taiwan's teams are from its cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung.

All are leading softball teams that have won lots of medals for their respective sides.

To welcome the players, a ceremony was held. Li Jun, director of the Handball, Hockey, Baseball and Softball Administrative Center, said at the ceremony that this event is expected to promote Pingtan's development of culture, sports and tourism.

Local officials also said that they want to enhance cross-Straits sports exchanges through such events, and to develop Pingtan into an international tourist destination by combining sports and tourism.

The softball stadium will be upgraded after the match, in hope of becoming a long-term training base for top teams from both mainland and Taiwan, announced the officials.

The Straits Cup Women's Softball Invitational is an annual event launched by the Chinese Softball Association and Taiwan's Taipei Softball Association in 2010. Its aim is to offer a platform for cross-Straits softball players to exchange techniques and build up friendship.