Introduction. Sports communication in modern international relations acts as one of the effective tools for the development of intermunicipal and interstate interaction [1]. The cooperation of the city of Krasnodar with the sister cities of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter – the PRC), namely Harbin, Jinhua, Dujiangyan, and Shijiazhuang, is of interest as an example of the formation of stable international ties at the city level through sports, cultural, and youth contacts. In this regard, the analysis of the role of sports communication in strengthening international ties between the city of Krasnodar and the partner cities of the PRC is relevant.

The aim of the research is to determine the features of strengthening international ties through sports communication using the example of the interaction between Krasnodar and the sister cities of the PRC.

Methods and organization of the research. Literature analysis was applied to study materials reflecting the directions of international cooperation of the city of Krasnodar with the cities of the PRC in the field of sports. Generalization and systematization were used to organize information about the forms of sports communication, the nature of bilateral contacts, and their significance for the development of international ties.

Results and discussion. The conducted analysis allows us to identify the following features of sports communication between the city of Krasnodar and the sister cities of the PRC: the development of sports contacts is carried out on the basis of officially formalized agreements on twinning and cooperation, which gives the interaction an organized and stable character; the main forms of sports communication are accessible and regularly reproducible types of sports activities, primarily chess tournaments, running events, and martial arts competitions; sports communication develops as an integral part of the broader Russian-Chinese humanitarian cooperation, within which sports are used as a means of strengthening international interaction.

Conclusions. At the same time, it was revealed that the sports direction in the system of international ties of the city of Krasnodar with the sister cities of the PRC is currently represented less widely than cultural and official business cooperation. This allows us to consider sports communication as a promising area for the further expansion of Russian-Chinese intermunicipal contacts.

References

1. Wang K. Rossiysko-kitayskoye sportivnoye sotrudnichestvo: analiz dostizheniy, problem i perspektiv razvitiya [Russian-Chinese sports cooperation: analysis of achievements, problems and development prospects]. Teorii i problemy politicheskikh issledovaniy. 2022. V. 11. No. 3A. Pp. 113-121.

No. 7, pp. 88–88

Received: 31.03.2026 | Published: 26.06.2026

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