By Wang Fengjuan

‘Experience China’ Brings Closer Ties

By Wang Fengjuan

Distinguished guests in attendance at the opening ceremony of “Experience China in Thailand” and the inauguration of the Bangkok Bureau of China Report.

On September 21, 2016, a photo exhibition called “We Are Together” kicked off at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, marking the beginning of a series of cultural events known as “Experience China inThailand and Indonesia”.

The photo exhibition showcased the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Thailand through stories such as Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s deep affection for China,Thai students’ special bond with Peking University, “monkey king” Liu Xiao Ling Tong’s cultural journey through Southeast Asia, Chinese volleyball star Feng Kun’s love story with Thai volleyball coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai and a day in the life of a head chef at aThai restaurant in Beijing.

The “Experience China” events built a cultural bridge that draws closer the connection between Chinese and Thai people, according to Wang Shiming, standing vice president of the Chinese Association for Culture Construction and head of the delegation of China’s State Council Information Office.

Cultural Glamour

At the opening ceremony of“Experience China in Thailand”, unique Chinese cultural elements were depicted through photo stories, original videos, interactive touch screen presentations and an exhibition of various books. Ning Fukui, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand who attended the opening ceremony, said that the “Experience China” events evidenced the positive relationship that exists between China andThailand, and provided a new medium through which the bilateral relationship can be promoted. Friendship between China and Thailand is crucial to the region and deepening cultural exchanges will further serve the interests of both countries, said Pokin Polakul, chairman of the Thai-Chinese Culture Association.

At the opening of “Experience China in Indonesia”, a photo exhibition named “Gems along the Maritime Silk Road” showcased more than 150 photographs of Chinese culture and natural landscapes in the cities of Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Zhangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Nanjing and Ningbo.

China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative is highly welcomed in Indonesia, according to Sudrajat, the former Indonesian ambassador to China.

“‘Experience China in Indonesia’will allow the Indonesian people to learn more about China, and with potential cooperation between these two countries in the background, the bilateral relationship will be improved through this event,” Sudrajat said.

Scholarly China

On Sept. 23, 2016, as part of“Experience China in Thailand”, a Chinese book exhibition was hosted by the China International Book Trading Corporation and Thailand’s Nan Mee Company. More than 1,000 books, including Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, were on display. On the same day, Asia’s first China Book Center began operation at Bangkok University, allowing ordinary Thai people better access to Chinese books and information about China, which will lead to a better understanding of Chinese culture and society.

The China Book Center is a symbol of bilateral cultural exchange and friendship, said Li Zhihui, deputy director of the Publishing Department of China’s State Council Information Office.

Lu Cairong, vice president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), said that he hoped the China Book Center would become an important channel for Thai readers in learning about China. CIPG will donate more than 200 different types of books to the center annually, and there are plans to host seminars, writers’ meetings, lectures and other events at the center.

China Pavilion (Pustaka Kebudayaan Tiongkok), a library sponsored by China’s State Council Information Office in collaboration with Al Azhar University of Indonesia (Jakarta-Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia) was established in Jakarta in late September. The library takes up an area of 80 square meters, offering more than 6,000 books and journals in more than 10 genres including politics, economics, humanities and social sciences, military affairs and history, which provide Indonesian students easy access to information about China.

Guests at the event examining a painting depicting the Ancient Silk Road.

People-to-People Bonds

Positive relations between two countries are made possible by a close relationship between the citizens of both countries. The “Experience China” series strengthens exchanges and mutual understanding by presenting Chinese culture to Thai and Indonesian citizens. During the“Singing in Siam” concert in Thailand on Sept. 23, famous Chinese and Thai performers sang iconic songs from both countries, as did Chinese and Indonesian performers during the“Singing in Thousands of Islands” concert in Indonesia on Sept. 27.

In Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, members of various media organizations from both China and Indonesia co-hosted a forum themed on dialogue and communication.

The media plays an important role in tightening people-to-people bonds. As noted in the opening ceremony of “Experience China in Thailand”, the Bangkok Bureau of China Report, a national political and economic journal published by CIPG, was officially launched in Thailand’s capital city in late September. Through this newly established office, China Report journalists will carry out more indepth coverage on the development of China-ASEAN relations. In Indonesia, meanwhile, China Report and Harian Inhua, a Chinese-language newspaper published in Indonesia, signed a cooperative agreement on sharing news reporting.

China and ASEAN member states are close both geographically and culturally, said Xie Feng, the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia. China and Indonesia have maintained friendly relations for thousands of years, and relations in recent years are the strongest they have ever seen, Xie added.

Xie said he believed that“Experience China in Indonesia” will allow more Indonesians to understand the Chinese people’s passion for life, their future expectations, and their devotion to safeguarding peaceful development, while cherishing the long tradition of Sino-Indonesian friendship and looking forward to a greater future.