A series of cultural events highlighting the China-U.S. friendship through film and television were held across the United States on Friday and Saturday, with participants highlighting the role of visual storytelling in strengthening mutual understanding and bilateral ties.
One of the activities was held at the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles on Friday, which featured a series of film screenings and storytelling sessions and was themed "Recording Friendship Through Light and Shadow: Sharing Stories of Friendly Exchanges between China and the United States."
The main event was the global premiere of the Chinese-American co-production "Dear Kuliang," a 50-minute documentary film which follows the descendants of an American family as they retrace the steps of one of their ancestors who lived in the historic town of Kuliang, located in the suburbs of east China's Fuzhou City.
The film shines a spotlight on the hillside resort area which has long been known for the warm bonds formed between foreign expatriates and the local Chinese community, and highlights the importance of ensuring these friendships endure.
"What's really important here is the whole feeling of Kuliang, right? It's the sense that people get when they tell the stories. So you talk to the ancestors and the stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. It's all about the meaningful friendships that they had together. So the friendships that were formed then have lived on through the decades and been passed from one generation to another," said Eric Johnston, a U.S. middle school teacher and researcher on Kuliang culture.
Meanwhile, a special screening and symposium was held in Utah's Salt Lake City on Saturday evening, marking the official North American release of the documentary "Bridge to a Shared Future."
The film charts the journeys of American journalists Edgar Snow and Helen Foster Snow, a couple who resided and reported in China during the 1930s, with Edgar Snow authoring the landmark book 'Red Star Over China' which gave a rare and detailed account of the Chinese revolution which was taking place that decade.
The newly-released documentary is told from the perspective of Adam Foster, Helen's great-nephew, and the creative team responsible for the production shared some behind-the-scenes stories with attendees at the Utah event.
Foster, who is the founder and honorary chairman of Helen Foster Snow Foundation, said that documentary highlights the intergenerational cooperation and friendship between China and the U.S., and showcases how the two countries have built a bridge of communication.
"This documentary is a fantastic opportunity for people to get to know Helen, but also to understand the U.S.-China relationship as it stands today, and all the things that our foundation is doing right now is to promote U.S.-China relations in a healthy way. We know there is a lot going on between Washington and Beijing and there always will be. But it's the people-to-people connection that we think is important and that the average everyday American cares about," he said.
Cultural events highlight China-US exchanges through films
The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.
When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.
Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.
"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.
Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.
During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.
"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.
"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.
After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.
The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.
Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident
