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China team News Christening of LONGTZE


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Christening of LONGTZE, the Chinese America’s Cup Class

Tuesday March 6th at 20h30, the first Chinese America’s Cup class in the history of the America’s Cup was christened in Valencia, Spain. CHN95 has become Longtze, "the son of the dragon". Longtze will carry the Chinese colors during the 32nd America’s Cup, starting April 3rd 2007.

The christening ceremony took place at the China Team base in Valencia, including the presence of the Mayor of Valencia, Rita Barbera, Mr. QIU Xiaoqi, Chinese ambassador from Madrid, WANG Chao Yong, syndicate president, sponsors of the team and 300 invited guests.

Longtze was christened by Xin Li, Chinese model and actress, ambassador for the team since its creation, who opened up a bottle of Chivas on the bow of the America’s Cup Class yacht. The christening ceremony was equally the occasion to present to the press the new collection of Lladro porcelain inspired by the China Team dragon as well as the new TAG HEUER collection of watches, China team Aquaracer

Symbolic of China, synonymous with power and nobility, the dragon is an inescapable element in Chinese culture. Longtze follows in this tradition, in the birth of a new generation of Chinese sailors.

QIU Xiaoqi, Chinese Ambassador of Spain: "I congratulate the China Team for this first participation of a Chinese boat and being in this 32nd edition of the America’s Cup. In the 150 years of this mythic trophy, this is the first time that China has constructed a racing yacht like LONGTZE. It is a very symbolic moment, for all of us here, but also for sailing in China and for the technological advances which are represented by building a race boat of this caliber. I wish with all my heart that the Chinese sailors know, being in this competition with the best sailors of the world, they represent the spirit of our nation and they will give a very good image of China. They are participating in the development of sailing in China and international friendship".

For WANG Chaoyong, President of China Team, "the christening of LONGTZE represents a new historical event in the development in Chinese sailing. It is not only the the first America's Cup Class "made in China" but also a perfect combination between courage, passion, technology, innovation and team spirit. China is a nation of dragons and Longtze, son of the dragon, belongs to this lineage!"

Xavier de Lesquen, Executive Manager: "There is a little more than one month to carry out the preparation of Longtze before the start of the first Round Robin of Louis Vuitton Cup. With this new boat, it is year 1 for China Team in the Cup. It is the beginning of the quest. Tonight we celebrate the boat but also the China Team base, which we wanted open, transparent and accessible to the public. The city of Valencia has welcomed us in this magnificent Marina Real Juan Carlos I and we are lucky to welcome in return the Valencianos and the numerous public who will come here in the upcoming months from all over the world".

LIU Chenqi , 19 years old, sailor, team novice: "The America's Cup is the a symbol of a country, the result of it's economic development. It needs the support of large corporations. With the christening of LONGTZE, China has made its entrance in the club of great sailing nations. I am very proud!"

Source: CHINA TEAM/Remi Villard