Zhou Jiangyong, Party secretary of Zhejiang province, declares the commencement of the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on Dec 11. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

In addressing the opening ceremony, Zhou Jiangyong, Party secretary of Zhejiang province, welcomed swimmers from across the world and expressed his wishes that the championships to be a big success and leave unforgettable memories for the city's residents.  

Top swimmers from Zhejiang province, including Chinese Olympic medalists Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen were at the ceremony to greet the world.

A total of 42 Chinese swimmers are slated to participate in the international sports event.

The FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), which is held in a 25 meter pool, was first held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain in 1993. In December 2014, Hangzhou beat off competition from the UAE's Abu Dhabi and Peru's Lima to become the second city to host the event in China, after Shanghai in 2006.