On February 16, the 2021 China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Little Cultural Ambassador" Activity Award Ceremony was held in Beijing. Li Bin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, attended the event and presented awards to the representatives of the award-winning "Small Cultural Ambassadors". Zhang Xu, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Wang Ning, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and Leader of the Working Group of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Hang Yuanxiang, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Yu Qun, Vice Chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Chen Junjun, President of China News Service, and Li Jinsheng, Chairman of China Foreign Culture Group Co., Ltd., attended the event.
At the award ceremony, the children of the Soong Ching Ling Peace Angel Art Troupe and the representatives of the winners of the "Little Ambassador of Culture" activity in Beijing performed the "Together to the Future" gesture dance, wishing the Beijing Winter Olympics a complete success and winning warm applause from online and offline guests. Chairman Li Bin waved to more than 10 overseas cultural centers, cultural offices of embassies abroad, representatives of overseas cooperation institutions, and award-winning teenagers from Beijing and overseas who participated in the online activities.
In his speech, Zhang Xu expressed warm congratulations on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the award-winning youth and overseas Chinese cultural centers participating in the event. Zhang Xu said that in 2021, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation insisted on integrity and innovation, and launched the "Little Ambassador of Culture" activity with the theme of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and continued to build a platform for communication, mutual learning and mutual learning for young people at home and abroad. The participating teenagers expressed their support for the Beijing Winter Olympics, their love for ice and snow sports, and their perception of the Olympic spirit in sincere and simple language, and "together to the future" became the most authentic expectation of the children from their hearts. Zhang Xu said that the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation has been committed to international exchanges and cooperation, playing a unique role in people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, and has a broad space for cooperation with overseas Chinese cultural centers. It is hoped that the two sides will further strengthen cooperation and play a positive role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Yu Qun said in his speech that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will not only provide a sports stage for athletes from all over the world to surpass themselves and work hard, but also build a bridge of friendly cooperation and a platform for exchanges and mutual learning between the people of all countries. The theme of the "Little Cultural Ambassador" activity of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is "Building Dreams for the Winter Olympics and Meeting in Beijing", which is to hope that the young friends participating in the activities can experience the profound significance of cultural integration and destiny between countries in the atmosphere of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Yu Qun said that the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation hopes to take the "Little Ambassador of Culture" activity as an opportunity to make old friends, make new friends, cultivate children, and promote people-to-people friendship, people-to-people cooperation, and people-to-people ties as the goal, and continue to contribute to the promotion of world peace and friendship.
Since its launch in June last year, the event has received a total of 209 outstanding works from 209 teenagers from 32 countries, of which 100 works were shortlisted for online exhibition and broadcast voting, and more than 28 million votes were received at home and abroad, and 30 winners of the title of "Little Cultural Ambassador", 30 "Excellence Awards" and 20 "Popularity Awards" were finally selected.
Amid the cheerful music, Li Bin presented the award certificate to the representatives of the young people in Beijing who won the title of "Small Cultural Ambassador" and cordially handed over the "ice pier" of the Mascot of the Beijing Winter Olympics to everyone. Li Bin praised the wonderful performance of the young people in the activities, encouraged them to play the role of "cultural messengers" and "bridges of friendship", and made their own contributions to promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning and deepening mutual understanding.
Zhang Xu, Wang Ning and Hang Yuanxiang presented award certificates to the winning representatives of the "Excellence Award", "Popularity Award" and "Excellent Organization Award".
The award ceremony showcased the highlights of the entries of the winners of the title of "Little Ambassador of Culture". Many representatives of the award-winning youth delivered their acceptance speeches through videos. Emily from Malta and Mira from Serbia expressed their love for China and Chinese culture and would like to share their experience of learning Chinese culture with everyone. Pakistan's Xie Rui said that "Little Ambassador of Culture" is not only a title, but also an inspiration to me. Shen Qing, who was born in Spain, said that she is overseas, and the spread of culture is in every bit of life. Sri Lanka's Dinagi said it was great to have the opportunity to learn about the ideas and cultural backgrounds of teenagers from other countries. Ayman from Xinjiang, Hebei liu bowei and Hubei Zhang Xiaoya said that as a "small cultural ambassador", it is our responsibility and mission to carry out Cultural Exchanges between China and foreign countries and promote cultural inheritance and innovation, and hope that in the future, we can meet more like-minded friends at home and abroad, and spread China's excellent culture and promote world peace and friendship with youthful vigor and enthusiasm.
Pochin Phong Lajun, chairman of the Thai Chinese Culture Promotion Association, former chairman of the Thai Parliament and former vice prime minister, sent a congratulatory letter expressing his willingness to cooperate in depth with the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to promote the promotion of Chinese culture in Thailand and continuously deepen the traditional friendship between the Thai and Chinese peoples. The Egyptian Minister of Culture, Ms. Inas, sent a special letter of congratulations to saeed, the winner of the country's "Little Ambassador of Culture", which was reported on the official websites of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and more than 40 local media. Many domestic and foreign cooperation institutions have also expressed their heartfelt wishes for the Beijing Winter Olympics and the "Little Ambassador of Culture" activities in different ways.
Representatives of the event review experts, representatives of the directors of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, relevant departments of the conference organs and the responsible persons of the China Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Technology and Cultural Exchange Center, representatives from the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China News Service, China Foreign Culture Group Co., Ltd., the Central Conservatory of Music, the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the Chongli District of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province attended the event.
Background:
The "Little Cultural Ambassador" activity of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation is jointly organized by The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and overseas Chinese cultural centers, and is hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Technology And Cultural Exchange Center. Since the launch of the campaign in June 2021, a total of 209 Chinese and foreign teenagers from 32 countries at home and abroad have received video submissions. Chinese and foreign young people overcame the impact of the epidemic to gather in the clouds, experience traditional Chinese culture, tell their own wonderful stories, and jointly bless the Beijing Winter Olympics, interpreting the theme of the activity of "Building Dreams for the Winter Olympics and Meeting in Beijing" with actions.