Baseball Photo: VCG

Two cross-Straits baseball matches - the first-ever Kunshan Mazu Cup Youth Baseball Tournament and 7th Haiqing Cup exchange camp - were held in East China's Jiangsu Province and Fujian Province, respectively, drawing youth teams from both sides of the Taiwan Straits. 

"Both events marked another step forward in deepening cross-Straits ties through sports, as young athletes from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island showcased their talent and strengthened friendships through a shared passion for baseball," Shen Limeng, a sports bureau official responsible for cross-Straits baseball matches, told the Global Times on Monday.

According to the organizing committee, Kunshan has long been a hub for slow-pitch softball, and in recent years, an increasing number of mainland youth have embraced baseball as well. This growing interest has attracted professional players and coaches from Taiwan island to the mainland, contributing to the development of a new generation of talented players.

"Since the announcement of the event on Taiwan island, we received an enthusiastic response and finally chose 12 teams," said Sun Decong, chairman of the Jiangsu Province Taiwan Businesspeople's Slow-Pitch Softball League. "We're considering expanding the tournament's scale next year."

Off the field, warm hospitality awaited the visiting Taiwan players and their families. Local Kunshan families of the same age groups invited them into their homes, offering a chance to experience the city's culture firsthand. The guests were treated to visits to ancient towns, Kunqu ­Opera performances, and immersive explorations of local culture. 

"I've been practicing baseball for three years, and I'm thrilled to compete on the mainland," said a second baseman from the Peinan team in Taiwan island, who was visiting Kunshan for the first time. "The city is clean, the people are welcoming, and everything feels so advanced. I even visited an art museum and tried the local cuisine - I really like Kunshan. I'll do my best to win in the upcoming games."

Cai Zhongren, deputy director of the Taipei Municipal Athletics Federation Baseball Association, emphasized that for Taiwan youth, such events are more than just games. "These exchanges not only enhance their love for baseball but also leave them with lasting memories of sweating and shining on the mainland's baseball fields."

While the Kunshan tournament was in full swing, another significant cross-Straits youth baseball event took place in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. On Saturday, the 7th Haiqing Cup Cross-Straits Youth Baseball Exchange Camp kicked off in the city.

Thirty young Taiwan baseball players joined two Fuzhou school teams, participating in both athletic and cultural activities designed to highlight the shared roots and emotional bonds between young people across the Straits.

This year's camp adopted a unique theme centered on "Back Home," using baseball's home plate as a metaphor for cross-Straits kinship. 

"Baseball is a common language for young people across the Straits," said a youth player from Taiwan island. 

"Every sprint on the field and every moment of silent coordination speaks volumes about our shared youth. May our bats swing with the strength of youth and hit a friendship home run across the Straits," the Strait Herald noted.

The four-day camp adopted a "baseball + culture" dual-track model. On the field, players competed and honed their skills in pitching, batting, and tactical coordination. Off the field, participants explored the Mawei Shipbuilding Culture Museum to learn about locals' intangible cultural heritage crafts like lacquerware.

"These cross-Straits youth baseball events have created more than just competitive platforms, and they've become living bridges of friendship, shared memories, and cultural resonance," Shen said.