A large-scale multinational media event dubbed "Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road 2024 · Road to Prosperity" was launched on Thursday in Xi'an International Port, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, marking the start of a journey traversing 13 countries across Asia and Europe to Paris, France. Meanwhile, a China-Europe freight train also joined the cultural activity to embark on the magnificent journey that covers 16,000 kilometers across the Eurasian continent by both highway and rail.
Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, now the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. This is also the place where Zhang Qian began his journey to the Western regions via Central Asia during the Western Han Dynasty (around 202 BC-AD 25) as an envoy of China. This expedition eventually led to the opening of the ancient Silk Road.
The city is also known for one of its most sacred monuments, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, where eminent Monk Xuanzang translated volumes of Buddhist scriptures during Tang Dynasty (618-907). Monk Xuanzang is known for traveling thousands of miles to the revered Indian monastery of Nalanda, where he studied Buddhism for five years under the guidance of Abbot Silabhadra.
The 52-day event will follow the footsteps of such Silk Road pioneers as Zhang Qian and Xuanzang. Using new media formats and technological tools, this initiative aims to build a platform for cultural trade exchanges and educational cooperation among Belt and Road countries, and comprehensively showcase the Silk Road in the new era.
The multimedia team will host a series of cultural and economic activities in 13 countries along the route. They will sign agreements for international cooperation in vocational education resources under the Belt and Road Initiative with media and cultural institutions in Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and France.
Ancient silk road city of Xi'an launches transnational cultural exchange activities
Representative on behalf of cities across China and the United States gathered at a sister cities summit in San Francisco on Friday to share insights on key topics spanning green urban development, culture, tourism, education and youth.
The 8th China-U.S. Sister Cities Summit was initiated by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in 2014, serving as a significant bilateral event following the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. heads of state in May while receiving positive responses from localities and friendly organizations in both countries.
More than 150 representatives from 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and 12 cities in China, and 160 representatives from 21 states and 36 cities in the United States, gathered to engage in in-depth exchanges and mutual learning on three main themes of green development and urban governance, culture and tourism, and education and youth.
Five cooperation agreements were signed between relevant cities in China and the United States, showcasing the results of 31 cooperative projects covering areas such as sister city partnerships, cultural and tourism exchanges, and youth exchanges.
The participants said these links boost bilateral friendship and contribute to stable China-U.S. relations.
"China [is one of the] largest economies, all the fantastic discoveries and things being done in China. The U.S. and China have a lot to learn from each other and working together, we can conquer the world's problems," said Carol Robertson Lopez, chair emeritus of Sister Cities International.
"The attendees all expressed their willingness to further strengthen cooperation with sister cities. They believe that there is a great potential, a bright future, and strong vitality in local exchanges and cooperation, and they are willing to contribute to and solidify the foundation of the constructive strategic relationship between China and the United States through close cooperation," said Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
At present, China and the United States have established 50 pairs of sister provinces and states and 238 pairs of sister cities.
8th China-US Sister Cities Summit held in San Francisco
