The file photo of two boys getting ready to showcase taekwondo moves during the fourth Cross-Straits Taekwondo Communication Contest held in Pingtan, Fujian province. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Pingtan social affairs bureau recently announced that the fifth Cross-Straits (Pingtan) Taekwondo Communication Contest is set to kick off on June 15, according to ptnet.cn on March 28.

About 650 contestants from 60 teams, including 150 from 15 Taiwan teams, will participate in the five-day contest. The contest is an annual event that began in 2012 and has been held for four consecutive years in Pingtan.

The players will be divided into two categories – individual and group – and will compete in various disciplines, such as those involving poomsae and taekwondo dance.

In 2016, the event also becomes part of the sports sub-forum of the eighth Straits Forum, which helps upgrade its status to a higher level.

Gao Yun, an official of local social affairs bureau said that the inclusion into the forum resulted from the area's continuous efforts in promoting taekwondo among local teenagers and its rich experience in hosting taekwondo events.

Gao mentioned that the Fujian Youth Sports Club Taekwondo Competition will also be held in Pingtan this year.

Local authorities are working hard to make Pingtan an important city for taekwondo events and to boost cross-Straits sports communication through such events, he added.