FIDE has inaugurated its new office in Shenzhen, located in Qianhai, during a ceremony attended by Arkady Dvorkovich and He Fengxiang. The opening marks a new step in the collaboration between the international federation and China, with the aim of promoting event organization, youth training, cultural exchanges and the development of chess across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Shenzhen Opens a New Chapter in FIDE-China Relations
The inauguration of the FIDE Office in Shenzhen took place on June 16 in Qianhai, one of the city’s strategic districts. After the official opening ceremony, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich held a meeting with He Fengxiang, director of the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the chess sector and exploring new ways to coordinate the work of international sports organizations with Chinese cities. The new office has a clearly institutional purpose: to serve as a platform connecting FIDE, China and a region that has taken on an increasingly important role in the country’s sporting and cultural activity.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts and messages of goodwill for the future of chess. Beyond the protocol element, the ceremony sent a clear signal of continuity in the relationship between both sides and of a shared intention to expand joint projects.
He Fengxiang Highlights China’s Support for FIDE’s Work
During the meeting, He Fengxiang emphasized that China has actively supported FIDE’s work. In his remarks, he described the official establishment of the office in Shenzhen as an important milestone in bilateral relations and as a new starting point for future collaboration.
The Chinese official expressed his hope that the new office will help broaden and deepen cooperation between FIDE and China. In that vision, Shenzhen is not simply an administrative location, but a base from which to develop chess-related initiatives with a wider perspective.
The geographical position of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was presented as a strategic advantage for exploring new models of cooperation. Among the areas highlighted were event organization, the training of young talents, international exchanges and industrial cooperation linked to the growth of chess.
Dvorkovich Praises China’s Chess Tradition and Organizational Strength
Arkady Dvorkovich thanked China for its continued support of FIDE and underlined the country’s importance within the international chess landscape. The federation president noted that China has a well-established chess culture and first-class organizational capacity for hosting major events.
In his assessment, recent international tournaments held in China have shown high organizational standards, professional management and a positive social impact. That experience, he noted, has made a meaningful contribution to FIDE’s global competition calendar.
Dvorkovich’s message positioned China as a key partner in the international development of chess. The opening of the Shenzhen office reinforces that relationship and expands the framework for future initiatives in the country and its wider regional environment.
A Symbolic Exchange of Gifts During the Meeting
The meeting also included an exchange of gifts carrying symbolic meaning for the future of chess. He Fengxiang presented Dvorkovich with a horse sculpture. The gesture had special significance, as 2026 corresponds to the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.
The gift symbolizes the idea of “taking the lead” and conveys wishes for new advances and further development for FIDE and the international chess community. He Fengxiang also showed Dvorkovich a commemorative album documenting achievements from major international chess events organized in China in recent years.
While reviewing the album, Dvorkovich paused to share his impressions. The FIDE president noted that he knew many of the featured players and said he was impressed by the achievements of Chinese chess.
Chess as a Cultural and Sporting Bridge
In response to the gift he received, Dvorkovich presented He Fengxiang with a copy of the book Chess Players. The FIDE president expressed his hope that the work would serve as a way to spread chess culture, bring the appeal of the game to more people and promote mind sports internationally.
That exchange reinforced one of the central ideas of the meeting: chess understood not only as competition, but also as a cultural, educational and institutional cooperation tool. The new Shenzhen office fits precisely within that vision, with areas of work extending beyond the sporting calendar.
Youth training, cultural exchanges and international partnerships are among the priority areas in the new scenario opened by the office. FIDE’s presence in Shenzhen is intended to facilitate more direct coordination with local and national actors involved in the development of chess.
Shenzhen to Serve as a Hub for New Projects
With the FIDE Office in Shenzhen now fully operational, both sides aim to expand cooperation in event organization, talent development, cultural exchanges and partnerships with international organizations. The office will act as a point of connection between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and chess resources distributed across China.
The choice of Shenzhen strengthens the city’s role as a bridge for international sports projects. Its location and its ability to connect institutions, economic activity and cultural development provide a favorable framework for new chess-related initiatives.
The opening of this office adds a new element to FIDE’s institutional expansion and to the growth of chess in China. At the center of the initiative is a shared idea: to use Shenzhen as a platform to promote cooperation, strengthen international exchange and give fresh momentum to the global development of the game.
