Friendly Kickabout and Scroll Painting Boost China-Africa Friendship
时间：2024-09-26 09:44:21
As a sideline event of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the Friendship Football Match Between African Diplomats in China and Chinese School was held at Beijing No. 12 High School on September 21. The match was co-hosted by China Foreign Affairs University, the BPAFFC, and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports. More than 100 people participated in the event, including 22 African countries’ diplomats in China and their children and teachers and students of Beijing No. 12 High School.
Before the Friendship Football Match started, African teenagers and their counterparts at Beijing No. 12 High School together painted two long scrolls themed “China-Africa Friendship,” presenting the brilliant civilizations of China and Africa, their longlasting friendship across time and space, and developments over the years. The scrolls were signed by Chinese and foreign VIPs and African football players present at the event.
Chinese and African teenagers gift the scroll to the Secretariat of the FOCAC Follow-up CommitteeWang Yanxia, Vice President of the BPAFFC, moderated the opening ceremony of the Friendship Football Match. She said that the FOCAC Beijing Summit injects new impetus into China-Africa relationship in the new era, and the Friendship Football Match aims to bolster friendly exchanges between African diplomats in China and people in Beijing, opening a new chapter of mutual understanding and affinity between the two regions.
Addresses by VIPs
An Qing, Full-time Deputy Party Secretary of China Foreign Affairs University and Executive Vice President of China Diplomatic Academy, pointed out that sports serve as an important platform for intercultural interactions and communication. As the world is going through profound change of a scale unseen in a century, sports help Chinese and African people increase enhance understanding and respect while promoting world peace and development. She hoped that this event could promote intercultural exchanges and mutual learning across boundaries, boost China-Africa friendly exchanges and cooperation, and further deepen their strong friendship.
Qiu Xianming, Counsellor of the Department of African Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that after about 70 years of effort, China-Africa friendship is in its prime. China-Africa exchanges and cooperation in culture, youth, media, and other areas are more vibrant than ever, presenting vast opportunities for future collaboration. He hoped that young people could actively engage in China-Africa cooperation and become the inheritor of China-Africa friendship and a dynamic force driving China-Africa cooperation, thereby contributing to the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
H.E. Antonio Serifo Embalo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to China, stated that the African Dream Team composed of African diplomats in China is the epitome of African people and embody a united, happy, and valuable Africa. He was delighted to see the Friendship Football Match bring together Chinese and African football players, signifying China-Africa cooperation. He also hoped that more football matches would be held in the future.
A Chinese traditional martial arts performance preceded the fierce battle on the pitch. High-ranking officials who kicked off the Friendship Football Match included H.E. Antonio Serifo Embalo; Zhang Qian, Executive Vice President of the BPAFFC; Qiu Xianming; An Qing; Yang Haibin, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports; Zhao Chunli, Deputy District Mayor of Fengtai District; Liu Jun, President of the Beijing Football Association; and Zhong Ling, Party Secretary of Beijing No. 12 High School.
Kickoff!
The team of children of African diplomats in China competed with the students’ team of Beijing No. 12 High School, and the African Dream Team battled with the teachers’ team of Beijing No. 12 High School. During halftime, the aerobics team of Beijing No. 12 High School, which has received gold and silver medals in various national and municipal contests, presented an audiovisual feast with synchronized, elegant and powerful aerobic movements to cheer for the football players.
The students’ team of Beijing No. 12 High School edged out the team of children of African diplomats in China by a single point through penalties. The African Dream Team beat the teachers’ team of Beijing No. 12 High School.
Kone, Malian Defense Attaché in China, Arnaud Pambou, the cultural counselor of the Gabonese embassy to China, and Bavogui Pascal, Economic Attache of the Guinean Embassy in Beijing, present trophies and certificates to Chinese players
This year marks the 90th anniversary of Beijing No. 12 High School. African diplomats in China visited the school’s history museum and biology exhibition hall, gaining insights into its development and remarkable achievements. They also expressed expectation for practical and multifaceted exchanges with the school in the future.
Relevant links
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