BIFA launches inaugural China Culture & Art Festival in Hainan

The BRICS International Football Alliance has chosen Longmu Bay, Hainan, for its inaugural China Culture & Art Festival after talks in Beijing with the China Arts Festival Foundation. The planned program links football, culture and youth exchange as BIFA seeks to deepen cooperation across BRICS, BRICS+ and the Global South.

Why it matters: - BIFA is trying to turn football into a broader platform for diplomacy, culture and youth exchange. - The festival is meant to support cooperation among BRICS nations, BRICS+ partners and the Global South. - The effort could broaden BIFA’s role beyond sports into arts, civilizational dialogue and international exchange.

What happened: - Salim Humaid Saif Almazaini, founding chairman of the BRICS International Football Alliance, and Wang Min, president of BIFA China Region, visited the China Arts Festival Foundation in Beijing. - The two sides reached a cooperation consensus for the inaugural BIFA China Culture & Art Festival. - The festival will take place in Longmu Bay, Hainan. - A special exchange forum was held on June 10. - The announcement identifies BIFA as the BRICS International Football Alliance.

The details: - BIFA was founded at the BRICS+ Forum on New Economy and Laws in Moscow in 2024. - The group has support from Larisa Zelentsova, chair of the International Union for BRICS Strategic Projects of Russia, and the UAE Ministry of Sports. - BIFA says its work follows the Memorandum of Understanding on Sports and Sports Culture Cooperation among BRICS Countries. - The alliance uses football to promote integration and coordinated development across sports, healthcare, cultural tourism, science and technology. - BIFA says its core mission is to use sports to strengthen cultural and people-to-people cooperation among Global South nations and other international partners. - The mission also includes youth development and sustainable development. - Forum participants discussed cultural and artistic communication, international sports and cultural cooperation, featured events and people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries. - Multiple cooperation agreements were reached during the forum. - Renowned Chinese artist Yu Hanyu welcomed the BIFA delegation and introduced leaders and guests at the event. - Wang Jing of the China Arts Festival Foundation said sports and culture serve as a universal international language and highlighted the potential for BRICS cooperation and mutual learning between civilizations. - Wang Jing also urged deeper long-term cooperation to tell BRICS stories and showcase diverse civilizations through integrated sports and cultural development. - Salim said football can link civilizations and culture can deepen mutual understanding. - Salim said BIFA+ aims to build closer ties among BRICS countries, the Global South and other international partners through sports, culture and youth communication. - Wang Min outlined the festival’s vision, positioning, framework, international layout and core values. - The festival will include events and performances, cultural exchanges, youth interaction and civilizational dialogue. - The program is built around the idea that sports connect civilizations and culture empowers the future. - The festival aims to create a regular, international and branded platform for people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries. - Mei Liang of the China Arts Festival Foundation presented the development plan and prospects for Eagle Token, a digital art asset project themed Ink Universe & Digital Symbiosis created by Professor Yu Hanyu.

Between the lines: - BIFA is positioning the festival as a launchpad for a wider international cultural exchange system. - The alliance is blending sports diplomacy with art, technology and youth programming to build a more durable network of partnerships. - The Beijing meeting suggests BIFA wants institutional backing for a calendar of recurring events, not a one-off celebration.

What's next: - BIFA plans to roll out the Cup of Civilizations, international youth programs, civilizational forums, international art exhibitions and more sports and cultural events. - The alliance says it will build an international cooperation platform that combines sports, culture, art, science and technology with youth development. - BIFA says the longer-term goal is to support exchanges between world civilizations and shared development across nations. - Social media: BIFA on LinkedIn and BIFA on Instagram