Chinese President Xi Jinping called for concerted efforts to promote China-Italy friendship when meeting representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing on Friday with visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
"The world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation. As two ancient civilizations, China and Italy should take proactive steps to advocate for the promotion of culture and virtue. We should tend to the fate of humanity with all encompassing humanistic values. We should transcend barriers and conflicts with a spirit of inclusiveness. We should pool our strengths for development with a vision of harmony and mutual coexistence, and let the beacon of civilization shine on the path forward for mankind. I hope the representatives present here would take on the responsibility and inspire more individuals who share the same vision to strive to become practitioners of China-Italy friendship and cooperation, promoters of East-West cultural exchanges, and participants in building a shared future for mankind to make the two countries' contributions to global peace and development," Xi said at the event.
"For a long time, the people of China and Italy have shared mutual admiration. Both countries boast rich and splendid traditional cultures, and have maintained continuous exchanges over the centuries. I hope that through unceasing efforts, we can build a cultural bridge between the people of Italy and China. Through the cultural cooperation mechanism and the university presidents' dialogue, we will strengthen the friendship between our nations, lay a solid foundation for harmonious coexistence, and inject momentum into our joint efforts to address global challenges," said Mattarella.
Xi calls for concerted effort to promote China-Italy friendship
Xi calls for concerted effort to promote China-Italy friendship
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
