The 9th General Congress of the World Xiangqi Federation Held in Shanghai — Professor Wang Liming Elected Vice President
On 22 September, the 9th Congress of the World Xiangqi Federation was held in Shanghai, China. A total of 37 representatives from 26 member organisations of the Federation attended the meeting. The Congress elected the members of the 9th Executive Committee. Mr. Timothy Fok, Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee, was re-elected as President of the World Xiangqi Federation, and Professor Liming Wang, Director of the UCD Irish Institute for Chinese Studies, was elected as a Vice President.
The World Xiangqi Federation was officially established in Beijing on 6 April 1993, with representatives from 20 countries and regions across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania attending the inaugural meeting. The Congress adopted the Constitution of the World Xiangqi Federation. The Federation’s mission is to promote the development of Xiangqi worldwide. Mr. Henry Fok Ying Tung from Hong Kong, China, was elected as the first President, and in 1997, Mr. Timothy Fok from Hong Kong, China, succeeded him and has served as President ever since.
Professor Liming Wang is the current President of the Irish Xiangqi Association. He attended the 9th Congress of the World Xiangqi Federation as the representative of the Association and stood for election as a Vice President, receiving unanimous support. The Irish Xiangqi Association was established on March 5, 2016, under the auspices of the UCD Confucius Institute, and was officially registered on October 18, 2023. Its Secretariat is located at the UCD Confucius Institute. Since its establishment, the Association has organised the annual “Confucius Cup” Xiangqi Tournament and twice hosted the European Xiangqi Championships. Notably, in 2023, it successfully hosted the 4th World Xiangqi Open.
Xiangqi, a treasured gem of Chinese culture, is a mind sport that combines wisdom, enjoyment, and unique charm. Yet, much remains to be done in promoting Xiangqi internationally. As an institution dedicated to the teaching and promotion of Chinese language and culture worldwide, the Confucius Institute has the unshirkable responsibility in advancing the global presence of Xiangqi.
世界象棋联合会第九届代表大会在上海召开：王黎明院长当选副主席
9月22日，世界象棋联合会第九届代表大会在中国上海召开。来自世界象棋联合会26个会员单位的37位会议代表参加了会议。会议选举产生了世界象棋联合会第九届执委会。国际奥委会名誉委员霍震霆连任世象联主席，爱尔兰都柏林大学中国研究院院长王黎明教授当选为世象联副主席。
世界象棋联合会于1993年4月6日在北京正式成立，来自亚洲、欧洲、美洲和澳洲20个国家和地区代表出席成立大会，会议通过了《世界象棋联合会章程》。其宗旨是推动全球象棋运动的发展，中国香港霍英东先生当选首任主席，中国香港霍震霆先生于1997年接任主席，担任至今。
王黎明院长是现任爱尔兰中国象棋协会会长，此次是代表爱尔兰象棋协会出席世象联第九届代表大会并竞选副主席，获全票通过。爱尔兰象棋协会是依托都柏林大学孔子学院于2016年3月5日成立并于2023年10月18日正式注册，秘书处设在都柏林大学孔子学院。协会自成立以来举办了年度“孔子杯”象棋大赛及两次欧洲象棋锦标赛，尤其是2023年承办了第四届世界象棋公开赛。
象棋是中国文化的瑰宝，作为智力运动，其智慧、乐趣和魅力并存，而象棋的国际推广还任重道远，孔子学院作为中国语言文化的国际推广教学机构，责无旁贷地推进中国象棋走向世界。