CRI听力:Qingdao International Marine Festival Kicks Off

The Qingdao Marine Festival is the only oceanic festival in China focused on developing the city's enthusiasm for sea sports while promoting the local culture and tourism as well as boosting the local economy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wang Xiulin, the assistant mayor of Qingdao's municipal government says that the 18-day festival will include more than 30 activities of six kinds.

"The theme this time is inviting the world to a blue oceanic feast. The festival features activities from six categories; ocean culture, the blue economy, navy shows, maritime sports, ocean sciences and ocean tourism."

The 'blue' economy refers to the extensive economic relationship Qingdao has with the ocean.

Aside from traditional and military performances, guests at Saturday morning's ceremony may have exciting experiences that nowhere else can provide.

They could either have a breathtaking helicopter ride or board a warship from the Chinese Navy that is docked at the pier.

The event also serves as a platform for cultural exchanges between the city and the world.

Manuel Rimkus is a visitor from Germany.

"It's great pleasure to participate in this festival today. I like the international atmosphere very much in which many people come together and meet each other. It's a very good possibility to find new friends here and to exchange some ideas. So this is very good atmosphere."

As a coastal city, every aspect of Qingdao is somehow related to the sea. Organizers not only see the festival as an opportunity to stimulate tourism but also as an introduction to the blue economy and oceanic culture.

Li Xiaobin is the deputy secretary of the event's organizing committee.

"Nothing plays a bigger role in developing tourism than festivals. It's responsible for one seventh of the boost in tourism, according to figures we've collected. Alongside the development of the Shandong peninsula in a 'blue' economic zone, the marine festival this year is undertaking even more responsibilities in defining exactly what a blue economy really is, what is oceanic culture and what the relationship is between the two."

The Qingdao International Marine Festival will run till August the 9th.

Activities will include all kinds of maritime exhibitions, performances and sea sports. The event is co-organized by the China's General Administration of Sports, the State Oceanic Administration, the National Tourism Administration, the Chinese Navy Headquarters and the Qingdao municipal government.

To provide a climax to the event, a concert will be staged at the Qingdao Tiantai Stadium which features popstars; Li Yuchun, Sammi Cheng and Keung Hang to name a few.

For CRI, I'm Wei Tong.