On December 4, BPAFFC co-hosted the “Colorful World” China-Morocco Youth Painting Exhibition and Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition and Experience Event with the Confucius Institute at Mohammed V University in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. About one hundred teachers and students of the Confucius Institute and members of the China-Morocco Friendship Association gathered at the event and enjoyed a lively atmosphere.
Following the guidelines of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing and the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for China’s Africa policy proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, this event featured diverse cultural programs imbuing with youthful charm and Beijing’s character as an ancient capital. The goal was to build a bridge for people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation between Beijing and Morocco.
Wu Bing, Vice President of the BPAFFC, said at the opening ceremony that the longstanding China-Morocco friendship is built upon ancient civilizations spanning thousands of years, as well as the vitality of modern civilizations. He noted that the hospitability and passion of the Moroccan people are truly impressive, and hoped that this event could give more Moroccan youth a better understanding of Beijing and China. The BPAFFC is willing to work with Morocco to deepen people-to-people friendship, especially friendship between the youths.
Mohamed Khalil, President of the China-Morocco Friendship Association, and Karima Yatribi, Director of the Confucius Institute at Mohammed V University, extended a warm welcome to the BPAFFC’s delegation. They thanked the BPAFFC and Xicheng District of Beijing for making thorough preparations for the event, and looked forward to take this opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Moroccan youths. Karima Yatribi said that the programs presenting fine traditional Chinese culture enabled Moroccan teenagers to better understand the profound heritage of Chinese civilization and enhanced the friendship between the peoples of China and Morocco. She hoped that similar events would be held in the future.
The event showcased 20 paintings created by Chinese teenagers. With vibrant colors and intricate composition, the paintings vividly depict the rich and cultural heritage of Beijing and are infused with the young creators’ perception and imagination of Casablanca’s charm, serving as a bridge connecting the hearts of young people from both cities. Wu Bing, Karima Yatribi, Mohamed Khalil, and Niu Xin, Director of the Xicheng District Cultural Relics Protection and Management Center of Beijing, together unveiled the painting exhibition.
In a lecture on Beijing’s culture, Wu Bing introduced the historical evolution and modern relevance of the Beijing Central Axis, as well as the underlying traditional Chinese philosophy and culture. Through illustrative examples, Niu Xin briefed on the efforts and achievements made by Xicheng District in preserving cultural heritage. What he said not only sparked the curiosity of Moroccan friends about Xicheng District but also resonated deeply with them, inspiring a shared interest in strengthening cooperation on the protection of historic cities.
Yu Ting, a national second-level tea master from Lao She Teahouse, explained traditional Chinese tea-making techniques and related customs and offered the carefully brewed Beijing tea to Moroccan teachers and students. From tea leaf selection to tea brewing techniques to the art of tea tasting, she presented Chinese tea culture in a tranquil and elegant manner. The audience savored the rich flavors and subtle aromas of tea while also getting a taste of the unique charm of Chinese tea culture.
The event culminated in the fascinating performance of Li Yang, the fourth-generation inheritor of the “Mu School of Magic,” who integrated modern performance styles with the national intangible cultural heritage known as “Ancient Color Change Magic Tricks.” Holding the audience in awe with his proficient skills, Li Yang invited some students onto the stage to perform with him. The performance was met with big rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.
The lively and engaging activities strengthened exchanges between young people and increased Moroccan friends’ understanding of Beijing, contributing non-governmental efforts to deepen China-Africa partnership. The Moroccan teachers and students were so immersed that they were reluctant to leave after the event. They also took photos with the delegation to keep the fond memories.
During his visit to Rabat, Wu Bing held talks with Karima Yatribi and Dai Xiaoqi, both directors of the Confucius Institute. He invited the institute to participate in youth exchanges organized by the BPAFFC, and Karima Yatribi gladly accepted the invitation.
This is the first time that the BPAFFC has sent a delegation to Morocco in recent years. In addition to carrying out cultural exchanges, the delegation also enhanced connections with various sectors of society in Morocco in a bid to promote practical cooperation between the two sides.
Pursuing shared development through subnational exchanges
During his meeting with Abdelhamid Al-Attas, Vice Mayor of Casablanca, Wu Bing expressed the BPAFFC’s intentions on strengthening practical cooperation between China and Morocco, and wished to further practical cooperation by building a bridge of people-to-people friendship. The Moroccan side stated that it highly values the friendship and cooperation with Beijing and looks forward to the two sides building more consensus and signing more projects in such areas as culture and tourism, economy and trade, new energy, and youth.
Facilitating cooperation on projects
Wu Bing also met with Said Farah Alaoui, head of Al Karam Association, and Hassan Selby, division director of football at the Charlton Athletic Football Club (CAFC). They together watched youth football training sessions, and engaged in in-depth discussions and reached agreements on several specific projects, including hosting China-Morocco food festivals, promoting cultural and tourism cooperation, and organizing exchange visits for youth football teams.
Signing agreement to push cooperation to new heights
Mohamed Khalil was with the BPAFFC’s delegation throughout the visit. He and Wu Bing had warm and in-depth talks with on how to forge a closer partnership and promote practical cooperation, leading to the signing of a cooperation agreement.
