A study tour co-organized by All-China Women's Federation and China National Children's Center was held in Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province on Thursday to gather students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to immerse in Chinese culture.
During the study tour, students from mainland and Taiwan region jointly experienced traditional crafts such as grass weaving, beadwork, and lacquer fans under the guidance of intangible cultural heritage practitioners, appreciating the beauty of traditional culture.
They also collaborated and performed several songs on the stage.
"We experienced intangible cultural heritage together, which brings us compatriots from the mainland and Taiwan closer at heart," said Huang Siyuan, a student from Ningbo Yinzhou High School.
"I hope that through communications such as intangible cultural heritage experience and traditional music, we can carry foward the conviction that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are of the same family through such interactions," said Lin Yu-an, a representative of Taiwan students.
During the study tour, young students from both mainland and Taiwan region also explored scientific discoveries, visited various sites, and learned about changes brought by national development in an effort to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.
"Through such activities, young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait can gain a deeper understanding that they share the same roots and ancestry, further study and carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and strengthen the emotional bond of 'both sides of the Taiwan Straits are of the same family'," said Yu Doingyun, director of International Exchange and Cooperation Center, China National Children's Center.
Students from both sides of Taiwan Strait take Chinese cultural tour in Zhejiang
The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened in Beijing on Friday morning with hotspots around the world and security cooperation taking the center stage.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 600 official representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations, including nearly 300 heads of official delegations and officials from various countries. The forum is held with the theme of "Promoting Peace for a shared future".
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. He first read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping to the forum. Then, he mentioned in his speech the current hot issues including the Ukrainian crisis and the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict.
Dong said "there is no winner in a war and a conflict, and there is no way out if we just confront each other." He also stressed that promoting peace talks is the only way out, and the fundamental way out.
Two plenary sessions were held after the opening ceremony. At the first session, participants exchanged views on "security cooperation and prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region", and official representatives from Vietnam, Singapore, Pakistan, Fiji, Russia and Malaysia spoke at the meeting.
The theme of the second plenary session was "multipolarization and the direction of international order", and defense ministers or military generals from six countries including Cambodia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Iran delivered speeches.
The topics all focus on security hotspots. Participants include not only developing and developed countries, but also representatives, experts and scholars from the closely-watched countries such as the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
In interviews, many participants said that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is committed to promoting dialog, exchanges and cooperation among defense agencies, militaries and international organizations of various countries, and is playing an active role in promoting regional security and stability and maintaining world peace and development.
The ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which runs until Saturday, will also hold eight parallel group sessions, focusing on themes such as the correct way for China and the United States to get along, European security trends and Middle East peace vision. This year, a new session on outer space security has been set up for participants to jointly discuss issues on outer space security governance.
Initiated in 2006, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is a high-level security and defense forum in the Asia-Pacific with significant international influence.
11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opens with focus on hotspots, security cooperation
