Youngsters from 16 Countries Carry forward the Spirit of the Silk Road through Art Exchanges - The 9th “Joy Dancing Beijing” Culture and Art Exchange Week of International Youth opened

On the afternoon of August 8, the 9^th “Joy Dancing Beijing” Culture and Art Exchange Week of International Youth was unveiled at the Future Hall, Beijing. The event attracted the participation of 16 outstanding international teams of young artists from Russia, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Nigeria, Uganda, Guinea, Sudan, Cameroon, Brazil, among other countries, and more than 3,000 youngsters from all over the country.

The event was co-organized by the Beijing Trade Association for Performances and the “Charming Schools” Organizing Committee, with support from the Campus Culture Special Fund of China Literature and Art Foundation, under the guidance of the China Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Centre for Young People and the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC).

Wang Yanxia, vice president of the BPAFFC, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. She said that this year's Exchange Week was the first in-person event since the end of the pandemic. With the theme of “Colorful Silk Road”, it was expected to foster mutual learning among civilizations through art exchanges, promote people-to-people bond through dialogue, and create a new page in Belt and Road cooperation featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. She wished the young participants from all over the world an unforgettable journey of art exchangeand hoped that they would discover a lovely Beijing, while being ancient and modern, is also open and inclusive.

Guo Xinbao, head of the  China Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Centre for Young People, said in his speech that the “Joy Dancing Beijing” event advocates the “Spirit of the Silk Road,” and builds a people-to-people exchange and learning platform for Chinese and foreign youth for them to grow into an important force in promoting cooperation under the BRI. He hoped that the event would link diverse cultures, promote people-to-people exchanges, and expand development paths and the global circle of friends.

At the opening ceremony, Thai student Nantanut Boonbusakorn spoke on behalf of the international teams. She said that she was proud to participate, to be able to communicate with friends from other countries in Beijing, appreciate the beauty of China’s fine traditional culture, and know each other better through culture and art exchanges.

Senior officials of BPAFFC, Beijing Trade Association for Performances, and the Campus Culture Special Fund of China Literature and Art Foundation presented flags to the international teams. Dressed in national costumes and holding national flags in their hands, youngsters from different countries poured into the center of the stage from all directions, accompanied by the music of “Xiang Qin Xiang Ai” (“Love Each Other”), kicking off the grand celebration of youth and friendship.

All the programs presented at the bilingual show of the opening ceremony were created to echo the theme of “Joy Dancing Beijing – Colorful Silk Road,” to show “global elements, Beijing’s characteristics, and Chinese style,” and to vividly reflect a wide range of topics such as the Global Civilization Initiative, the 10^th anniversary of the proposal of the BRI, biodiversity conservation, and cultural diversity through artistic expressions. Teenagers from different countries performed 15 unique and wonderful programs, including the dance “The Shared Home,” the art exhibition “A Colorful World: Civilization in Paintings,” the Thai dance “Amazing Thailand,” the rap performance “Panda Show,” and the African drum performance “King Africa Drum.” The show was a feast of cultural exchanges, conveying the idea of “a diversified and harmonious world,” and promoting the common values of peace and development shared by mankind.

This year’s Exchange Week consisted of three sections: the bilingual show at the opening ceremony, the art carnival and the study tours. Through art exhibitions and exchanges, it built a bridge of friendship between Chinese and foreign youth, enhanced their understanding of and identity with Chinese culture, and allowed them to appreciate Beijing’s unique culture in the study tours. Some of the participating teams would also visit the embassies of Mali, Ghana, Chile, Armenia, and Uzbekistan in China for cultural exchanges. The opening ceremony was live-streamed on v.qq.com, Charming Schools Channel on Weixin, and Weibo.

Other VIPs attending the opening ceremony included Jia Xinhui, vice president and secretary-general of Beijing Trade Association for Performances; Jiao Dongcun, former Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas; Li Suhua, member of the Art Education Committee of the Ministry of Education and vice chair of the Dance Education Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Education; Zhang Xianmin, a famous children’s dance educator and honorary vice chair of the Beijing Dancers Association; Guo Hui, deputy head of Beijing Gao Zhanxiang Culture and Arts Foundation; and Guo Haixia, Secretary-General of the Campus Culture Special Fund of China Literature and Art Foundation.