Cuba, China sign agreement to boost sport cooperation

HAVANA - Cuba and China signed here Monday a collaboration agreement to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the sports sector.

The accord covers the exchange of advisory and scientific information, trainers' formation and the preparation of the Chinese athletes on the island before the Olympic Games of River of Janeiro 2016.

According to the text, Beijing will support Cuba in disciplines mastered by the Asian nation as diving, table tennis, badminton and gymnastics, while learning from the experiences of Cuban technicians in boxing, judo, baseball and volleyball.

The document was signed by the President of the local National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), Christian Jimenez, and visiting Yang Shu'an, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sports and vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

"This work agreement gives us the possibility to deepen the sport relationship between both nations and boost it in the future" , Jimenez said.

On his part, Yang Shu'an expressed to be very happy with the project, because China and Cuba have many common points to develop sports

"This cooperation is not limited to the high performance sport, it is also extended to popular and massive sports, as well as to economy and sport culture", Yang added.

Yang arrived at Havana on Saturday for a four-day work visit.  He is scheduled to meet with the President of the Cuban Olympic Committee Jose Ramon Fernandez, and with officials of the State agency Cubadeportes, besides of touring the National Schools of Volleyball and Wu Shu.