A Sino-French cultural exchange meeting kicks off in Changsha on June 25 evening, as part of the "Changsha in the Eyes of Overseas Chinese" series activities.

Returned overseas Chinese youth from all walks of life in Changsha communicate with French artists via video link.

Participants present a calligraphy work.

Participants present a calligraphy work. (All photos provided by the corespondent)

A Sino-French cultural exchange meeting kicked off in Changsha on June 25 evening, as part of the "Changsha in the Eyes of Overseas Chinese" series activities. More than 40 returned overseas Chinese youth from all walks of life in the city gathered together to experience Hunan culture and discuss Sino-French cultural exchanges. Liu Bin, vice chairman of the Changsha Returned Overseas Chinese Federation, and other members of the federation's relevant offices attended. Relevant persons of the Yuhua District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation and Tianxin District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation also attended.

Ms. Duan Lisheng, president of the France-China Economic, Cultural and Educational Exchange Association in France, extended a warm welcome to the participants via video link. She warmly introduced the development of the association and its efforts in promoting the economic and cultural exchanges between China and France, and sincerely invited returned overseas Chinese in Changsha to renew friendship and carry out cooperation in France. Meanwhile, artists from France also expressed their expectations for Chinese culture and wishes for the event through videos.

In his speech, Liu Bin, vice chairman of the Changsha Returned Overseas Chinese Association, affectionately reviewed the close cooperation and deep friendship between the France-China Economic, Cultural and Educational Exchange Association and the returned overseas Chinese community in Changsha. He said that the France-China Economic, Cultural and Educational Exchange Association has provided a platform for bilateral economic, trade and cultural exchanges and made outstanding contributions to the friendship between the two peoples. He hoped that the association will give full play to its advantages, further strengthen communication and cooperation with the returned overseas Chinese community in Changsha, and work together to promote the positioning and missions of the “Three Hubs and Four New Missions” Strategy, and continuously show the national feelings and responsibilities of overseas Chinese associations.

The event also invited Mr. Zhao Xiong, a collector of Hunan ancient wood carvings. He showed some wood carving works and vividly explained the social, cultural and folk-custom connotations contained in these works. This further enhanced the understanding and love of Hunan culture.

“Changsha in the Eyes of Overseas Chinese” is an activity brand innovatively created by the Youth Committee of the Yuhua District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation. It aims to pool resources and strength of the new generation; hold a series of activities based on Changsha's “14th Five-year Plan” and the needs of the returned overseas Chinese community; share with Chinese at home and abroad the life, study and entrepreneurial struggles of returned overseas Chinese youth in Changsha; show the fruitful results of Changsha’s new economy; promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and the West; and, contribute overseas Chinese strength to the in-depth implementation of the Strategy of “Strengthening the Provincial Capital”.

The event was guided by the Changsha Returned Overseas Chinese Federation; hosted by the Yuhua District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation, Tianxin District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation, and the France-China Economic, Cultural and Educational Exchange Association; undertaken by the Youth Committee of the Yuhua District Returned Overseas Chinese Federation; and, co-organized by Pozi Street Sub-district Office.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn