On June 13, 2026, Ambassador Qi Qianjin attended the 11th Dragon Boat Festival organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Zagreb and presented awards to the winning teams. Chinese and Croatian directors of the Confucius Institute, representatives of diplomatic missions in Croatia, participating teams from across the country, and hundreds of local residents attended the event.

Ambassador Qi noted that the Dragon Boat Festival has become one of the most influential Chinese cultural events in Croatia. The dragon boat race has not only promoted friendship and cooperation, but has also given rise to many heartwarming stories. The Marco Polo Team from Korčula won the championship twice and has developed a close friendship with the Chinese Embassy. Following its championship victory, the Trakošćan Castle Team established extensive cooperation with the Yangzhou Museum in China. In another memorable story, a young Chinese-Croatian couple first met during last year's dragon boat race and later tied the knot. These examples vividly demonstrate the positive role the event has played in promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Croatia.

A total of 27 teams participated in this year's competition. During the event, guests watched the races and experienced various aspects of Chinese culture, including calligraphy, tai chi, Go, mahjong, kite-making, shadow puppetry, and Chinese cuisine. The atmosphere throughout the event was warm, friendly, and lively.