Foreign guests arrive at Great Hall of the People for FOCAC opening ceremony

Leaders of African countries and international organizations arrived at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday morning.

The three-day FOCAC summit, which opened on Wednesday, is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.

Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the event aims to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between the two sides.

A special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held in Berlin, Germany on Saturday.

Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.

During the event, the John Rabe Communication Center, the German Burg Chinese Chorus, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, and the Federation of Germany-China Friendship Association officially joined the global partnership program of the "Written in the Sky: My China Story" campaign and were awarded certificates on Saturday.

The German Burg Chinese Chorus performed classic Chinese and German songs, including "On Wings of Song" and "Jasmine Flower." The Shenzhou-18 crew, currently in orbit, sent a video message from the space station and interacted with German teenagers.

The attendees of the event held in Berlin agreed that as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have gained increasing global support, China has not only brought opportunities to the world but also built bridges of friendship with people from various countries.

Attendees wrote their wishes for the PRC's 75th anniversary, expressing their commitment to continuing their stories with China to address global challenges and create a better future for humanity.

Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, stated that China aims to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue among global civilizations, and enhance mutual understanding.

"We will portray the ultimate romantic warmth of Chinese culture, record the continuous legacy of human civilization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," said Shen.

Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo noted that both China and Germany have a profound cultural heritage, and their mutual appreciation and exchange of knowledge have been ongoing.

In an era of challenges, Deng emphasized the need for strengthened communication and cooperation, expressing hope that more young Germans will learn Chinese, develop an interest in Chinese culture, visit China, and become ambassadors of Sino-German friendship and exchange.

Nearly 200 attendees from various sectors, including politics, culture, diplomacy, economy, and trade, as well as young teachers and students, participated in the event.

Multiple mainstream European media, such as Italy's il Giornale and EU Reporter, covered the event, reaching a total audience of nearly 15 million in Europe.

Launched in March this year, the campaign “Written in the Sky: My China Story” has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe. It will also be held in other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria.