College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts of CDU Participate in ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week 2023
Author:: Liu Yangyun          Source:College of Chinese and ASEAN Arts         Date:2023-03-17

On March 14, the ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week 2023 was inaugurated at Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum, co-sponsored by Chengdu Municipal People's Government and ASEAN-China Centre, and organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government and Chengdu University (CDU). Guests attending the event include Lin Nan, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People's Government, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre, Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, officials of embassies of ASEAN countries in China including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines, and relevant leaders of CDU. Relevant leaders of the International Department of College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, and youth representatives of China and ASEAN countries also attended the event.

In her speech at the opening ceremony, Lin Nan mentioned the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts of CDU a couple of times, fully acknowledged the College's function as a platform for in-depth China-ASEAN exchanges and cooperation, and placed great expectations on the future development of the College. She hoped that the young friends of China and ASEAN countries strive to act as the communicators of mutual learning of civilizations, the inheritors of friendly relations and the promoters of practical cooperation, aiming to make fresh, active contributions to the joint building of closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Chen Wanxuan, a Malaysian student from the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, presided over the opening ceremony, winning acclaim from the audience for his fluent Chinese. He said in an interview that he saw the film Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn by chance in secondary school, which stimulated his yearning for China's animation industry, so he chose to study in Chengdu and major in animation at the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts.

During the China-ASEAN cultural exhibition and performance, students from the School of Music and Dance, College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, presented the original dance The Colorful ASEAN. LE HA NHI, a Vietnamese student majoring in music performance, sang an art song The Lantern Festival Night, which is an ancient Chinese poem written by Xin Qiji. The performance conveyed the beautiful Chinese culture with artistic language, drawing fervent cheers from the audience.

"We meet in Tianfu and heart and hand together", the lyrics of the theme song called Heart and Hand Together for ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week, co-led by three students of the Chinese & ASEAN Arts College, ANG MING XUAN from Malaysia, LE HA NHI from Vietnam, and NONG DINH CUONG, and a Vietnamese student TRAN THI BICH NGOC from Guangxi Arts University. The youthful melody brought the spot atmosphere to a climax.

        As a bridge of friendship and a significant platform for mutual learning, integration and exchange between young people from China and ASEAN countries, the ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week 2023 with the theme of "Join Hands For A Shared Future" includes an array of activities such as the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week 2023 and ASEAN-China Cultural Exhibition and Performance, ASEAN-China Fine Arts Joint Exhibition, as well as “On a Cloud Tour of Chengdu” and “A Trip of Perception to Chengdu” for ASEAN-China youth envoys. In the ASEAN-China Fine Arts Joint Exhibition, the works of young artists of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts and the paintings of the spouse of the Indonesian ambassador to China, Sih Elsiwi Handayani Oratmangun were jointly exhibited to fully manifest the distinctive culture, highlight the charm of the city, deliver friendship, and enhance people-to-people bonds.

Cutting paper, blowing sugar figure, painting kites, printing New Year pictures, rotating sugar paintings... Many traditional intangible cultural heritages were unveiled at the event, and young people from ASEAN countries proactively participated in how they are made. LEHAWANIT PACHARI, a Thai student from the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, said that the event was very meaningful and she felt very happy to participate. "I have experienced colorful traditional intangible cultural heritages such as blowing sugar figure and printing New Year pictures. I am amazed by the extensive and profound Chinese culture and the wonderful and exquisite Chinese craftsmanship. I would also like to thank the university for providing such opportunities and platforms that I can enrich my study life abroad."

The ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week, upgraded from ASEAN-China Young Students Gala in 2018, aims to further expand exchanges among the youth between the two sides and promote hearty connections among young friends. The ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week is also expected to advance youth exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN countries and deepen the understanding and friendship between the people of the two sides. With this event, international students of the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts not only have the opportunity to showcase their talents but also can exchange and interact with other young students from China and ASEAN countries to promote mutual understanding and friendship.

Since its establishment, the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts has enrolled 200 students winning Chengdu ASEAN Arts Scholarship each year, more than 75% of whom are from ASEAN countries. Over the past five years, the College has cultivated more than 800 international students, opening up new prospects for cultural exchanges and integration and people-to-people bonds between Chengdu and other countries around the world, ASEAN countries in particular.