On July 4th, right at the time when President Xi Jinping visits Russia, the Russian VHL has officially announced that it would jointly launch the Silk Road Cup SHL (short name SHL) together with China International Cultural Communication Center starts from 2018/19 seasons. Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Executive Chairman of China International Cultural Communication Center Long Yuxiang and President Tretiak of Ice Hockey Federation of Russia formally signed the above-mentioned cooperation agreement with the witness of dozens of media in Moscow.
In response to the “Belt and Road” initiative put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, in order to strengthen cultural and sports exchanges with countries along the “Belt and Road”, and actively prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympics and meanwhile to promote the popularity of ice hockey in China, CICCC cooperates with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia to jointly build this brand-new international hockey league on the basis of VHL. Since the 2018/19 seasons, the League will commence among hockey clubs in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries along the “Belt and Road”. It is expected that by 2022 the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the League would attract 8 to 10 clubs from China to join in.
Meanwhile, the ice hockey team in Jilin Province, China announced that it became the second Chinese Hockey Club to join in the Russian VHL from this season. The Heilongjiang Kunlun Red Star previously jointly built by the Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau and the Kunlun Red Star Hockey Club has announced the participation in the League. These two teams will also become the members of the China Silk Road Hockey League. Party Secretary of Jilin City Zhang Huanqiu attended the signing ceremony and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. Representatives of Tsen Tou Hockey Club in Jilin signed relevant agreement to join the VHL, the news conference of which would be held in Jilin.
With the participation of China, the Russian VHL expands into Silk Road Cup SHL, which is of great significance for changing the pattern of the Eurasian hockey. That’s not only an important achievement of Chinese ice hockey’s sailing out, but also an embodiment of China’s determination to keep up with ice hockey’s international standards, and integrate with its global development. Looking forward to having more ice hockey clubs from countries along the “Belt and Road” to join in and wishing it become the best platform for cultural and sports exchanges between countries.
