Mainland welcomes Taiwan youth to participate in film, gaming industry development: spokesperson

A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday encouraged young people from Taiwan to actively participate in developing the mainland's film, television and gaming industries, expanding the cultural and creative industry.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, briefed reporters on the development of the mainland's cultural industries.

"Recently, the cultural industries on the mainland, including film, television dramas, and games, have been thriving, with many excellent works emerging and being widely embraced both domestically and internationally. These outstanding products which integrate traditional cultural elements with modern innovative fashion are especially favored by the people on the island, especially the teenagers," said Zhu.

The spokesperson said China's first full-process artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) animated film, "The Reunion Journey," will hit the big screen soon. The AI-based film tells the story of giant panda siblings Tuan Zai and Yuan Niu, characters inspired by the real-life pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, who were gifted by the Chinese mainland to Taiwan. As they experience separation, search for one another, and ultimately reunite, this narrative presents a Chinese tale from a global perspective, conveying the themes of reunion and cultural affinity.

She added that the action RPG game "Wuthering Waves" has gained popularity among young people in Taiwan, captivating players with its Eastern aesthetics and delicate plotlines. The game has frequently ranked among the top ten on the best-selling charts.

"From 'Ne Zha' to 'The Reunion Journey' and from 'Black Myth: Wukong' to 'Wuthering Waves,' numerous films, television dramas, and games from the mainland have deepened Taiwanese youth's understanding of the rich heritage of Chinese culture, continuously enhancing their cultural identity and confidence. We welcome young people from Taiwan to actively participate in the development of the mainland's film and game industries, support the strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between industries on both sides, and jointly expand the Chinese cultural and creative industry," said Zhu.

Mainland welcomes Taiwan youth to participate in film, gaming industry development: spokesperson

A cultural exchange event in Guangzhou saw teenagers from China and the United States gather to promote mutual understanding and friendship through music and other art forms.

Kicking off the new year, young performers from the American One Voice Children's Choir returned to Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, for another visit, engaging in face-to-face cultural exchanges with local youth.

During their time together, the teenagers visited the top of the city's landmark Canton Tower, and joined their voices in heartfelt rendition of the emotionally rich Cantonese classic "Friends."

"I think music is so powerful and creates such a bond between people. I mean, I'm not really understanding the words of this song, but I just know that it's so powerful to everybody and just music can span gaps that words can't always fill," said Cody, a member of One Voice Children's Choir.

Beyond singing, the young visitors also participated in hands-on cultural experiences including calligraphy and handcrafted fans making with their Guangzhou peers, immersing themselves in the charm of Chinese aesthetics and Eastern civilization.

Teenagers from both countries said that this event gave them a deeper understanding for the power of cultural exchange in strengthening China-U.S. friendship. Many primary school students in Guangzhou shared their hope that such activities would be held more frequently.

"We'd like to have more of these China-U.S. exchange activities," said Li Ziyu, a primary school student.

"In areas like music and sports, which have no borders, we can enhance cooperation," said another student, Zhang Bolun.

Music gathering in Guangzhou deepens friendship between Chinese, US teens