On September 17, a signing ceremony for the strategic collaboration between BYD Company Limited and the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation was successfully held in Beijing. Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD's Brand and Public Relations Department, and Kong Dongmei, Founder and Chairwoman of the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation, gathered with guests from various sectors and young football student representatives to witness this significant milestone together. The ceremony proceeded through segments including the official signing, plaque presentation, and the exchange of commemorative gifts, officially solidifying the partnership.
Moving forward, BYD will support the Dongrun Cup National High School Football Tournament, deepening its involvement in campus football and strengthening the foundation for youth football development across China. Unlike the spotlight of international competitions, the Dongrun Cup brings its stage to ordinary high school students from county-level schools in regions such as Xinjiang, Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Jiangxi. This year's tournament spans over 20 provinces, regions, and municipalities nationwide, directly benefiting more than 352 schools, with over 4,000 players and coaches involved. The finals bring together 20 provincial champion teams to compete on one platform.
Many young football enthusiasts from county areas possess deep passion for the sport yet face a shortage of professional competition opportunities and training equipment. BYD will facilitate the launch of provincial league matches and the finals of the Dongrun Cup, providing young athletes with a fair competitive stage and cultivating campus sports through public welfare initiatives. As a national 5A-level non-public fundraising foundation supervised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation's Dongrun Cup has established itself as a representative public welfare high school football tournament in China. Beyond organizing tournaments at various levels, the project also carries out equipment donations and grassroots coaching training programs, with all incentive funding allocated to school team development to address the resource gaps in grassroots campus football.
Kong Dongmei, Chairwoman of the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation, stated: "Football is the world's number one sport; youth represent China's future. The Dongrun Cup does more than identify football talent—it shapes character, enriches minds, and empowers the long-term growth of young people." BYD, as a national enterprise committed to independent innovation and social responsibility, aligns closely with the foundational mission of the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation. This partnership will amplify the public welfare impact of the Dongrun Cup, allowing more children who love football to have a stage for their dreams and further advancing the integration of sports and education.
"We cannot take the field for them, but we can bring them to the field," said Li Yunfei, General Manager of BYD's Brand and Public Relations Department. He noted that the Dongrun Public Welfare Foundation has dedicated a decade to public welfare, setting a benchmark for serving youth development—a spirit of long-term commitment that resonates deeply with BYD. Football knows no boundaries, and playing fields are not defined by size. We not only want China's football youth to see a bigger world, but also aim to provide them with a stage to showcase their passion.
This strategic cooperation marks another practice in BYD's support for youth football development. Since 2024, BYD has organized more than 200 youth football participants on exchange trips to Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Japan, where they engaged with top overseas clubs and gained exposure to elite tournaments such as the European Championship and the World Cup. Through its partnership with the Dongrun Cup, BYD will continue to focus on the growth of domestic youth football. Together, both parties will leverage their respective strengths to channel resources into broad grassroots campus environments, persistently driving China's youth football development through corporate commitment.
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