On the morning of December 3rd, the opening ceremony of “Root-seeking Tour” Winter Camp for Malaysian Chinese teenagers was held in Quanzhou Normal University. The winter camp is intended for Malaysian Chinese teenagersto experience the glamour of traditional Chinese culture and the beauty of China.
Huang Jiangkun, vice president of QNU, and high-profile provincial and municipal government representatives were invited to the opening ceremony.
Huang Jinyi, vice minister of Cultural Exchange Department of Fujian Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, delivered a speech at the ceremony. Huang noted that the winter camp is an event to provide overseas Chinese teenagers with on-the-spot experience of Chinese culture, better understanding of China and their hometown, and to improve their ability in speaking and writing Chinese as well as appreciating Chinese cultures and arts. He hoped that the campers would explore the glamour of Chinese culture and learn about traditional Chinese culture during the activities. Hong Jisheng, leader of the winter camp, said he was impressed by the hospitality of students and teachers in QNU and the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Hong expressed his enthusiasm for Chinese culture, wishing overseas Chinese kids more opportunities to access and inherit Chinese culture.
After the ceremony, campers from Malaysia and students from QNU jointly gave a performance showcasing local culture and carried out interesting activities like ice breaking and pairing-up.
The 10-day camp, which was sponsored by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and jointly organized by both Fujian and Quanzhou Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Quanzhou Bureau of Education, QNU, and Xinshan Fujian Guild Hall in Johor, Malaysia, attracted 55 teachers and students from Malaysia to visit Quanzhou from December 2nd to 11th.
During their stay in Quanzhou, the teenagers took various courses provided by QNU, learning Chinese language and traditional Chinese arts. They were also invited to different local attractions for cultural exchange with the local people.
(Office of Foreign Affairs, School of Literature and Communication)