As has been noted at the recently concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, today our world, our times, and history are changing in ways like never before, posing unprecedented challenges for human society. China sincerely calls upon all countries to hold dear humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom and to promote mutual understanding and forge closer bonds with other peoples, so as to join forces to meet all types of global challenges.

Cultural exchanges are an important driving force for human progress and global peace and development. Given countries’ different histories, cultures, systems, and development stages, the diversity of civilizations must be fully respected to promote the shared values of humanity. Mutual respect, cooperation, and harmonious coexistence are the right way forward for the development of human civilization.

China is an important representative of Eastern civilization, and Europe is the birthplace of Western civilization. China-Europe people-to-people exchanges have become increasingly institutionalized, multi-tiered, and all-dimensional. Cooperation between the two sides in fields like education, culture, tourism, language, youth, and sports has become more practical, substantive, and fruitful, contributing to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

In recent years, China and Belgium have stepped up cultural exchanges and cooperation. The two sides have held many official and non-official events both online and offline. Events like the Concert by Tan Dun and Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, the Chinese New Year Parade in Liege, and the Chinese Memories Mid-autumn Concert were warmly welcomed and well received by the Belgian public. Through culture and tourism weeks, festival events, concerts, photo exhibitions, documentary festival, and book launch, the Belgian public can access China’s stories and voices and feel a credible, appealing and respectable China.

On August 6, 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Belgium and Pairi Daiza jointly hosted the Joy of A Thousand Days event in celebration of the 3-year birthday of Bao Di and Bao Mei, the giant panda twins. Over 100 guests from the Chinese and Belgian sides attended the event and visited the photo exhibition of China (Sichuan) Giant Panda Culture and Tourism Week. The China Cultural Center in Brussels organized special activities to help children and teenagers in Belgium to learn more about giant pandas and to experience Chinese culture. As an envoy and bridge of friendship, giant panda has strengthened cultural and people-to-people ties between China and Belgium and presented an appealing image of China to the Belgian public.

On August 17, 2022, the book launch of Vergeet Me was held at the China Cultural Center in Brussels, and nearly 50 Chinese and Belgian guests attended the event. The book tells the thrilling and true story of Ms. Qian Xiuling (Madame Perlinghi-Tsien) who saved 110 Belgian people from the Nazis in World War II. As an important part of the history of friendship, love, and mutual assistance between the Chinese and Belgian peoples, the story presents a respectable image of China. The French version of the book is under translation and is expected to be published in the first half of 2023.

From November 3 to 9, the 2022 “Xinjiang is a Nice Place” Xinjiang Culture and Tourism Week was jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, the Network of International Culturalink Entities (NICE), and the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This event presented the scenery, history, and folklore in Xinjiang. Netizens were amazed by the beautiful landscape and delicious cuisine of Xinjiang. The event not only offers the Belgian public a window to learn about Xinjiang’s beautiful scenery and cultures but also helped them to develop a comprehensive view of the real Xinjiang.

Friendship between the peoples holds the key to sound state-to-state relations, and heart-to-heart communication contributes to deeper friendship. Deep friendship between the peoples is a source of strength for the development of state-to-state relations. Only through various forms of people-to-people exchanges can we create more opportunities to resolve differences, break down barriers and deepen communication. With its firm commitment to upholding and acting on humanity’s shared values, China will continue to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning, strengthen people-to-people ties, and contribute to carrying forward humanity’s shared values. 

https://www.eureporter.co/world/china-2/china-eu/2022/12/03/champion-the-shared-values-of-humanity-and-forge-closer-people-to-people-ties-between-china-and-belgium/