The 2024 Belarusian Chinese Cinema Day kicked off Friday in Minsk, aiming to strengthen Sino-Belarusian cultural exchanges.
The opening ceremony was attended by over 150 guests from both countries, including Executive Deputy Director General of China Film Administration Mao Yu, First Deputy Cultural Minister of Belarus Valery Gromada, China's ambassador to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan, as well as renowned Chinese actors and directors.
The four-day event will showcase four Chinese films, namely "Endless Journey" (2023), "Ride On" (2023), "Lighting Up The Stars" (2022) and "YOLO" (2024).
Belarus and China have seen fruitful exchanges in the film industry in recent years. In 2021, China introduced the film "Persian Lessons" co-produced by Belarus, Russia and Germany, receiving a positive response from Chinese audiences, Mao noted in his speech.
Mao also expressed that China warmly invites Belarusian filmmakers and films to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival scheduled for next year, further enhancing collaboration and exchanges in the film sector between the two countries.
Gromada said that Belarus welcomes the screening of Chinese films and looks forward to learning about Chinese traditions and culture through films. He believes that China-Belarus film cooperation and exchanges will further deepen the friendship between the two peoples.
2024 Belarusian Chinese Cinema Day opens in Minsk
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
