The ceremony of advanced government departments and officials of national public sports was held in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on August 31, 2013, before the opening of the 12th National Games. The Zhangjiagang sports bureau of Jiangsu province and Liu Xinshi, director of the public sports branch of the bureau, received honors.

President Xi Jinping met all the bureau representatives and officials.

Meng Bo, director of the Zhangjiagang sports bureau, said he was encouraged by President Xi’s speech. The bureau will continue to implement national policies on public sports, improving national fitness activities and promoting the overall development of public and professional sports.

This is the fifth time that China has honored advanced government departments and officials since 1993. The ceremony is held every four years. This year, 2,978 government departments and 2,496 officials were honored.