47th World Military Shooting Championship opens

The opening ceremony of the 47th World Military Shooting Championship of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) was held on the afternoon of December 2, 2012 at the base of the Shooting Team under the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Chen Yong, assistant to chief of general staff of the PLA, declared the commencement of the championship.

A total of 375 athletes from 35 countries will compete in 6 events with 12 items in the next five days.

In his speech, Zheng Qin, deputy commander of the Guangzhou MAC of the PLA, extended a warm welcome to the athletes and coaches from the armed forces of various countries in the world. He said that the PLA successfully held the 23rd World Military Shooting Championship in 1982 in Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China (PRC). 30 years later, friends from the militaries of various countries of the world gathered in China again. We will cooperate sincerely with and learn from friends from various countries for common improvement.

Afterwards, Mr. Kim, an official representative of the CISM, delivered a speech.

Officials from the CISM, military attachés in China, and more than 300 foreign cadets from the College of Defense Studies of the National Defense University (NDU) of the PLA, the Nanjing Army Command College of the PLA and the Air Force Command College of the PLA were present at the opening ceremony.