On June 29, the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival opened in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Peng Qinghua, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

Peng noted that Kuliang has become an important platform for young people from China and the United States to build closer ties and engage in sincere dialogue and exchanges. He expressed the hope that Chinese and American youth will draw strength from history to reinforce the public support underpinning bilateral relations, use sports as a bridge for mutual learning among civilizations, and work together for peace to build a stronger force for safeguarding global stability. He also encouraged them to turn this short-term gathering into a lasting relay of the Kuliang friendship, ensuring that the spirit of China-U.S. people-to-people friendship continues to thrive and contributes to the steady development of China-U.S. relations.

The event is jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Fujian Provincial People's Government. About 400 participants attended, including eight youth baseball teams from China and the United States, members of the "Kuliang Friends", students from Flying Tigers Friendship Schools, and representatives from U.S. sister states and sister cities.