China's winter sports equipment experiences green innovation, market expansion

China's winter sports equipment market is gaining momentum in expansion by focusing on green innovation and attracting international buyers.

This winter, companies in Qitaihe City in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province are ramping up their production to meet the growing demand for winter sports equipment.

They are investing in technological reforms and developing new products such as helmets and blade supports, with a particular emphasis on customized services.

For example, ice skates produced in the city are now using carbon fiber, which enhances both comfort and performance.

"Our customized skates are made of carbon fiber material, offering good fit and comfort," said Zhu Degui, a technical staff member from a local sports equipment enterprise. 

In 2024, the recognition of Qitaihe's ice skate products in the international market was increased significantly.

The city has established partnerships with countries like Hungary, Russia, and Canada, selling over 30,000 pairs of winter sports equipment, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

"We have built an ice and snow economic industrial park and introduced relevant enterprises. In the next step, we will take the 9th Asian Winter Games as an opportunity to help enterprises extend the industrial and supply chains, expand the market, and fully promote the rapid development of the ice and snow economy," said Li Shuning, director of Culture and Tourism Bureau of Taoshan District in the city.

In east China's Zhejiang Province, Ninghai County of Ningbo City also has a deep-rooted ski pole industry which has grwon significantly.

The town of Shenzhen in Ninghai is home to 34 ski pole manufacturers, producing over 15 million poles annually. 

This accounts for 60 percent of the global market share, with products mainly exported to Europe and North America. 

Data indicates that the town's sports rod industry generates over 920 million yuan (about 130 million U.S. dollars) annually, comprising more than 75 percent of the national total for similar products. 

More than 90 percent of this value is derived from exports, primarily to the United States, Germany, France, and other European and American markets.

"After more than 20 years of development, our town has formed a complete industrial chain system to achieve a good trend of cluster development in the region," said Chen Yunsong, the town mayor.

China's winter sports equipment experiences green innovation, market expansion

The China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum is expected to bring new vitality to the global development and human civilization, said Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing.

Petro, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum on Wednesday, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview, while giving a special mention of the importance of the forum as a platform to reshape multilateralism.

"This Forum, held here in China, comes at a pivotal moment in history. And that's precisely what makes it so significant. It is taking place at a time when multilateralism is in urgent need of reshaping. There are some powers who believe they can rule the world through intimidation and shows of force. But with China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries standing together, we must make them understand: history is full of hard lessons. Those who once flexed their military might did not prevail. They may have enjoyed momentary success in the past, but this time, history will not repeat itself," he said.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum's operation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum that under the careful cultivation of both sides over the past 10 years, the China-CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree.

Petro hailed the relations between China and LAC countries over the past decade, saying that the cooperation is expected to energize the global development and human civilization.

"Yes, exactly, a tree. A strong and thriving tree, with deep and well-developed roots firmly anchored in the earth. There's no doubt that over the past ten years, trade in physical goods between China and LAC countries has grown substantially. China is involved in building the Bogota metro project. China is also constructing a port in Peru, and many other large-scale infrastructure projects are being advanced through Chinese investment and engineering expertise. When we link the cultural and civilizational threads of China and LAC countries, it's as if we are nurturing a living tree, one that grows tall toward the sky and promises to bring new vitality to the human civilization," he said.

China-CELAC Forum brings new vitality to global development: Colombian president