Finnish President Alexander Stubb has extended a warm welcome to global tourists, businesses and hospitality investors, highlighting the country's commitment to becoming a major player in the international tourism and business landscape.
In an interview on Wednesday during his state visit to China, President Stubb said that a number of core tenets and values have been successful within Finland and can be a major draw for international visitors and businesses.
"So, if I were to leave a brand or an image of a country, it would be one in which it's easy to travel, with which it's easy to do business with, a country that you can feel very hospitable in," he said.
Stubb reflected on his political journey for the past 20 years as a European Parliament member, foreign minister, prime minister, and now president of the country, saying he now aims to showcase Finland's equitable and open society to the world.
"When I came into politics, I wanted to bring the world into Finland. I wanted to internationalize Finland. That's why I was passionate about Europe. Now it's sort of the reverse. I want to bring Finland to the world. Because I think we have a fairly functional society. I do it with all modesty, but there are few key tenets and values that work in our society. They have to do with equality between men and women, have to do with justice, have to do with freedom, have to do with openness. Because I believe that open societies actually self correct themselves," he said.
Finnish president welcomes global tourism, business, hospitality
A drama club in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has been fostering cultural ties between China and Portugal through captivating performances in a unique and centuries-old creole language, according to a five-episode documentary launched by China Media Group (CMG).
Miguel Senna Fernandes, is a practicing lawyer in Macao and a former law student who studied in Portugal and lived in the country for eight years.
In 1993, Fernandes founded a drama club, Doci Papiacam di Macau, together with his friends, composed of members with a common identity - they are Macanese, descendants of Portuguese settlers in Macao.
The Macanese community, rooted in Macao's multicultural history, has its creole language, Patua, a blend of Portuguese with elements of Cantonese, Malay and other languages.
Fernandes comes from one of Macao's oldest Macanese families, whose lineage in the region dates back more than 270 years.
"Patua is a very old language which dates back to the 16th to 17th century. It was born out of Portuguese and enriched by many other linguistic elements," said Fernandes .
Fernandes' drama club stages a new play every year, keeping the language alive and relevant through art.
After rehearsals, they will enjoy Macanese cuisine, a hallmark of their culture, which blends ingredients like Portuguese olives and onions, Indian turmeric and curry and southern Chinese cinnamon and coconut milk into a distinct and borderless gastronomy.
The club has performed in the Portuguese capital Lisbon recently, bridging cultural connections between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
"I love the music. It's very very nice, many things about Macao. I think it's a very lovely city," said an audience member.
"I wish to go to Macao. Macao is a city center, but it's a world center in terms of of culture, finance and as well leisure. It is one of the best cities to visit in China," said another.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, CMG is airing the documentary series titled "25 Years of Lotus Bond" on CCTV-1 at 20:00 every night from Dec 13 to 17, with subsequent broadcasts on CCTV-4 and CCTV-13.
The documentary comprises five thematic episodes: Love for the Home and the Nation, A Path of Diversity, The Flavor of Happiness, A City of Integration, and Gateway to the Future. It showcases the successful practices of "one country, two systems" in Macao under the strategic guidance of the central government.
On December 20, 1999, the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Macao drama club bridges China-Portugal exchanges with unique creole performances
