On December 10, the China (Sichuan)-Africa Youth Cultural Exchange Program, themed “Forging Youth Friendship Side by Side”, kicked off in Chengdu. The event was hosted by Sichuan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Information Office of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, Sichuan Provincial Education Department, Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and Sichuan Association for Science and Technology, and organized by Chengdu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Meishan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and nine universities. It aims to establish a bridge of friendship between Chinese and African youth and facilitate the development of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. During the four-day program, 78 international students from 22 African countries, Pakistan, and Indonesia, along with over 30 Chinese youth representatives and teachers, immersed themselves in the beauty of Sichuan’s natural landscape, the charm of its multifaceted culture, the momentum of its innovative development, and opportunities for opening up and cooperation.

 

 

“Robots are amazing. I have witnessed the strong momentum of China’s technology,” the youth representatives exclaimed as they stepped into Sichuan Science and Technology Museum. In the robotics exhibition area, Boubacar Moumouni Soufianou, an international student from Niger studying at Southwest Petroleum University, mimicked a robot excitedly. “When I make a move, it instantly copies it exactly!” he said, waving his arms with his eyes sparkling with curiosity and admiration.

 

 

In the exhibition hall of the SSCIP Heartbeat Robot Central Park, African youth representatives spontaneously began singing “Chengdu”. Their voices, though accented, were filled with sincere emotion. “On my previous visit to SSCIP several years ago, there were fewer high-rise buildings than there are today. The development has been incredibly fast.” Indy-lee Anderson Ngoye Tonda, an international student from Gabon studying at Sichuan Agricultural University, has lived and studied in Chengdu for six years. “Chengdu feels like a second home to me. I truly love this city,” he added.

 

 

At Tianyi Nongyuan Art Expo Park, the international students immersed themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture through hands-on intangible cultural heritage workshops featuring bamboo weaving, tie-dyeing, and rubbing. “It is a great honor to try Chinese tie-dyeing firsthand. This handicraft reminds me of my hometown and my childhood, and shows me similarities between Chinese and African cultures,” Gurure Cathrine, an international student from South Africa, shared.

 

 

Subsequently, the international students visited technological and agricultural projects, including CATL and Xinjin District’s China Tianfu Agricultural Expo Park. Akram Karimi from Morocco expressed his excitement: “Chengdu is my favorite city in China. Having studied here for many years, this was the first time I was able to explore Chengdu in a multidimensional and in-depth way. As a student specializing in rural development, I found the agriculture-related visits during the program particularly rewarding, as they have enhanced my understanding of the origins of the Land of Abundance. I anticipate another visit in the future!”

 

 

Additionally, the international students attended the China (Sichuan)-Africa Youth Gala at Chengdu Vocational University of the Arts, where youth representatives from Chengdu and Africa learned from one another and forged friendships while performing together on stage. The charm of diverse cultures intertwined and resonated throughout the gala.

 

 

“Youth have always been the most active and creative force in China-Africa relations. I anticipate that the program will open up a new avenue for African youth to discover Sichuan and understand China and establish a platform for deepening friendships and fostering shared development.” A relevant official of Sichuan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries noted that the foundation of China-Africa friendship lies among the two peoples and the future of this friendship will be created by the young people. Such exchanges precisely represent concrete actions to implement the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” initiative put forward by the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2024. Through site visits, cultural immersion, and dialogue among young people, the program has not only enhanced African youth representatives’ understanding of Sichuan and China but has also infused China-Africa friendship with youthful energy.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Chengdu Discovery