CMG hosts exchange event to mark China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership

A people-to-people and cultural exchange event hosted by China Media Group (CMG) was held in Munich on Friday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany.

The event took place on the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, and a number of cooperation projects in the fields of media, film and television were launched.

Xing Bo, Deputy Director of CMG, Zeng Yingru, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, Franz Josef Pschierer, former Bavarian State Minister of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, and Armin Schwimmbeck, Director of Asian and Bavarian Affairs of the Bavarian State Office of Foreign Trade, attended the event and delivered speeches.

In her speech, Xing said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany. The world is undergoing a century of rapid changes, and the risks and challenges facing human society are increasing. To solve these problems, cooperation between major countries is essential. CMG is willing to work hand in hand with friends from all walks of life in Germany to be a promoter of the prosperity and development of China and Germany, and to share the opportunities and dividends brought by China's further comprehensive deepening of reforms.

Pschierer said that Bavaria and China have a long history of traditional friendship. Many companies have actively invested in China and achieved great success, benefiting greatly from the common growth with China. Through reports from Chinese media, he also found that German classical music is very popular in China, and musicians including Beethoven and Strauss are well-known in China. He hopes to build a bridge of friendship and promote more cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and other fields through the sharing of culture and art.

Zeng said that for more than 50 years, China and Germany have continued to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. Since President Xi Jinping visited Germany in 2014 and the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago, the political mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously strengthened, pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, and cultural exchanges have become more active. This exchange event hosted by CMG will become an important platform to promote the mutual understanding between the two peoples and the mutual learning of civilizations, she said.

Schwimmbeck said that China has been Bavaria's largest trading partner for seven consecutive years. China's importance to Bavaria is not only economic, but multi-dimensional. Bavaria is committed to developing close and sincere cooperation with China and firmly opposes trade protectionism. He believes that through face-to-face exchanges and discussions, the cooperation and mutual trust between Germany and China can be further enhanced.

At the event, CMG Europe and Germany's Vogel Communications Group jointly launched an exchange project "Understanding China - German Journalists' China Trip in 2025". In cooperation with CMG, Vogel will send journalists to China in 2025 to experience the vivid practice of Chinese path to modernization.

The international version of documentary "Time: A Journey through Thousands of Years", co-produced by CMG and German Television ZDF, was released at the event. The film will be shown at the Cannes Television Festival in autumn, using the power of images to show mankind's unremitting exploration of time itself.

The event also announced CMG’s "Giant Pandas in Germany" video cooperation plan, which shares detailed video clips of the life of giant pandas in Germany. A corresponding section was launched simultaneously at CMG's official website.

The Chinese Choir of the Burg Gymnasium, a German high school, performed Chinese songs "Let's Start Rowing the Oars" and "On Wings of Song" on the spot. The choir members also carefully prepared a collection of photo albums and presented them to CMG.

The event was attended by Xia Yongmin, deputy editor-in-chief of CGTN, Teng Yunping, director of the CMG International Communication Planning Bureau, and nearly 100 guests from various sectors in Germany.

CMG hosts exchange event to mark China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership

American high schoolers kicked off an eight-day tour of China on Monday, playing series of friendly pickleball and table tennis matches with local students in Beijing.

During their time in the Chinese capital, the students from the U.S. state of Iowa also practiced Wushu, an ancient form of Chinese martial arts, and visited the Olympic Education Museum.

Their trip will also take them to Qingdao, a coastal city in eastern China's Shandong Province, and Hebi City in central China's Henan Province, where they will visit cultural and natural attractions, according to China's Ministry of Education.

The sports exchange took place at the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, one of the main stops of the 2026 U.S. Youth Pickleball People-to-People Exchange China Tour.

Originating in the United States, pickleball is a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. The popularity of the three sports in China has helped fuel pickleball's growing appeal across the country.

"I've had a lot of fun. I've learned a couple of new things. And I've been able to share those experiences with new people I've been meeting," said Nora Say, a high school student from Iowa.

Pickleball has grown increasingly popular among young people in both countries, leading to its incorporation into youth exchange programs in recent years. Students built connections through the game.

"Honestly, working with him was probably the best part. Just like being with your teammate out there, and trying your best," said Anthony Aguilar, a high school student from Iowa, speaking about his Chinese pickleball partner.

"We are very happy. I enjoy playing with him," said Yu Zongsheng, a student from Capital Normal University Pingguoyuan High School.

Table tennis, a sport with a rich history in China, was another part of the exchange. Before the U.S. students arrived, their Chinese peers got ready to welcome them and introduce them to the game.

"I prepared by thinking about some simple ways to communicate with them, practicing more to get a better feel for the game, and figuring out how I could help them get a better understanding of table tennis," said Cui Yimeng, a student from Capital University of Physical Education and Sports.

The visitors said they learned a lot about the sport during the exchange.

"I think it's pretty fun. I did not expect a lot of certainties on how to hold the paddle, where to put your fingers, how to angle your paddle," said Elsie Aguilar, a recent high school graduate from Iowa.

Sports have played a notable role in China-U.S. relations for decades. In 1971, a U.S. table tennis team made a historic trip to China, marking the reopening of channels for friendly people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

China launched an initiative in November 2023 to invite 50,000 young Americans to visit the country for exchange and educational programs over a five-year period. According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 50,000 young Americans have since visited China, reaching the target two-and-a-half years ahead of schedule.

US students visiting Beijing enjoy sports exchanges with Chinese peers