On August 17, in Kazan, as a part of the ‘zero day’ of the III International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”, dragon boat races were held. The competition featured 18 teams from companies and enterprises operating in Tatarstan, as well as from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan.
According to the results of the first final heat, Setevaya Kompaniya (grid electricity supplier) became the winner. The silver medals were won by the team from Megastroy, while Avtokama took the bronze. In the second final heat, Nefis Cosmetics team won. The second place was taken by Triton Trade, and third place went to Korib.
The spectators and race fans gathered near the new building of the Galiaskar Kamal Theatre and got involved with a Chinese-style Sabantuy. Several activities were organized for them, including qigong practice, master classes on writing one's name in Chinese characters, making paper figures, and others.
“People in Russia know little about China, a country with millennia of history. This festival, the Chinese Sabantuy, serves to share the beauty of Chinese culture, history, and traditions. We have a lot of industrial enterprises that are now working and cooperating with China, and Chinese companies are doing business in Tatarstan. Therefore, we want people to have a chance to soak up Chinese culture,” said Oleg Korobchenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The Dragon Boat races were held for the first time on Lake Sredny Kaban, near the new building of the Galiaskar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theatre. Six boats participated in each heat, with a dragon's head fixed to the front and its tail to the back of a boat. Each team consisted of 12 people: ten rowers, a coxswain who watched over the course, and a drummer who set the pace and rhythm for the movement.
A mandatory requirement was the participation of at least one woman in each team. “We are holding the Chinese Dragon Boat races to popularize other sports, such as kayaking and canoeing,” said Alexander Vasilyev, Executive Director of the Tatarstan Kayaking and Canoeing Federation and the chief of competition judges. He clarified that two Chinese teams took part in the event.
The Dragon Boat Festival included not only the competitions but also a cultural program. A concert and various master classes were organized for guests on the waterfront of Lake Kaban.
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The Third International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” will be held in Kazan on August 18-19. Participants from 32 countries, 59 regions of Russia, and 24 administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China have registered for the forum. Eleven government delegations and at least 200 Chinese corporations are expected to attend, Mrs. Minullina told. Approximately 10,000 people will participate in the forum. The business program covers areas such as inter-state dialogue, economics, industry, education, business and entrepreneurship, business associations, finance and investment, culture, media, law, transport, agriculture, tourism, and construction. The program features around 100 events, including 70 business sessions. Around 20 agreements are planned to be signed at the forum. ANPO Directorate of International Programmes is the operator responsible for preparing and holding the SPROUTS Forum. Official website of the SPROUTS Forum: https://russiachinaforum.com