Adding Ecological Dimension to 50th Anniversary of China-UK Friendship

On the afternoon of December 7, 50 teenagers from the Branch of Beijing No. 161 High School and Banbridge Academy in Northern Ireland entered into an online dialogue and held an environmental protection exchange event themed “share a low-carbon life and enjoy a green future”. Participants shared their experiences and feelings about promoting green and low-carbon life and tackling climate change, called on China and the UK to work together to build a green Earth home, and expressed wishes for the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UK.

The online activity of UK-China Youth Education and Culture Exchange was hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Northern Ireland Bureau in China, and the Consulate General of China in Belfast, and co-organized by Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Xicheng District People’s Government, and the Confucius Institute at Ulster University. 50 teenagers from the Branch of Beijing No. 161 High School and Banbridge Academy in Northern Ireland participated in the activity online, symbolizing 50 years of China-UK friendship and the march towards a more promising future.

Yan Dong, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said in his speech that this year marks the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and the UK. Over the past 50 years, China and the UK have made many admirable achievements and jointly addressed global challenges such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis. It is hoped that the young people of the two countries will foster exchanges and mutual learning, keep alive China-UK friendship, live a green and low-carbon life, guard the blue planet, take a global view, and promote the progress of human civilization.

Zhang Meifang, Consul General of China in Belfast, said in her speech that guided by Xi Jinping thoughts on ecological civilization, China is becoming an important participant and contributor to global ecological civilization, sharing China’s wisdom and strength for coping with ecological crisis and building a clean and beautiful world. It is hoped that students will make more exchanges, form the consensus among youth, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!

Kiera Lloyd, Counselor of the Northern Ireland Bureau in China and Representative of the Northern Ireland Government in China, stressed in her video message that we become citizens of the world as the world gets increasingly smaller. We can learn from each other to fulfill the common task of tackling the global climate challenge and making the world a better place. She hoped that this event, as the starting point, would inspire young people of the two countries to learn from each other in more areas!

Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, introduced the notable achievements made by Beijing in promoting green development as well as the exchange projects with other countries conducted by BPAFFC in the field of environmental protection. She called on young people of the two countries to raise environmental protection awareness and work together to build a more harmonious and beautiful world. She invited students of Banbridge Academy to Beijing for environmental protection and cultural exchanges and to learn more about Beijing and China after the epidemic is over.

During the exchange, Ms. Xiao Tingting from the Branch of Beijing No. 161 High School gave a lecture on “intensive recycling”, introducing their teaching philosophy of integrating “intensive recycling” into the school curriculum, as well as the multiple measures to promote energy conservation and waste recycling, reduce the use of disposable tableware, etc. Mr William Cromie, Senior Teacher of Banbridge Academy gave a lecture on the theme of “Ecological Garden and Biodiversity”, introducing the practice adopted by the teachers and students of the school’s horticultural society to beautify the school, protect local biodiversity, and raise students’ environmental awareness by building an ecological garden. After the lectures, the young people held lively discussions and raised questions on topics of interest to each other.

After the lectures, students from Beijing showcased the traditional Chinese musical instruments flute, pipa and erhu made from recycled materials, and performed the folk music “Spring in Ordos”, “No. 5 of Pipa’s Etude” and “Horse Racing”. Students from Northern Ireland played the traditional harp and sang Christmas songs to express seasonal greetings to Chinese friends.

In a friendly and warmly atmosphere, Wang Chen, President of the Branch of Beijing No. 161 High School, announced that the pipa and erhu instruments jointly made by teachers and students using eco-friendly materials were presented to Banbridge Academy to express good wishes for friendly exchanges between the two schools and their pursuit of low-carbon life. He hoped that the young people of the two countries would broaden their international horizons, have a greater sense of social responsibility and enjoy a green future! Robin McLoughlin, President of Banbridge Academy, presented a linen apron handmade by the school’s graduate that symbolizes the local traditional linen manufacturing industry. He said that he was pleased to communicate with students from Beijing online, and hoped that the two sides would communicate to solve environmental problems and contribute to the protection of the natural environment.

“Today, we pledge to work together towards the common goal of keeping our classrooms green. Today, we commit to ‘the 3 Rs’ – reduce, reuse and recycle.” In the end, Chinese and British teenagers read the joint plege “Share a low-carbon life and enjoy a green future”, adding an ecological dimension to the China-UK friendship!

Hao Zhongwei, Director of the Eurasia Department of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Zong Linhong, the Deputy Directorof the Eurasia Department of the CPAFFC; and relevant leaders from Confucius Institute at Ulster University, the Foreign Affairs Office of Xicheng District Government and the District’s Education Committee attended the event.