In the height of summer, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the breeze is pleasant.
In Malta, the "heart of the Mediterranean", teachers and students of the "China Corner" of St. Margaret's Secondary School in Cospquah recently received a reply from Chinese President Xi Jinping. For them, this is big news and a huge surprise.
"Feel the humility and open-mindedness of China's leaders"
"I really didn't expect that President Xi Jinping would take time out of his busy schedule to read the letter and personally reply to us, and the teachers and students were very excited!" I want to make this letter a precious gift in the school's historical archives. I also want to keep a copy at home. Martin Azopadi, founder and senior teacher of st. Margaret's "China Corner" at St. Margaret's Middle School, sent an email to a friend for the first time after receiving President Xi Jinping's reply, and could not wait to share his joy, "From the reply, I truly feel the humility and broad mind of the Chinese leader! Chinese culture has a unique charm, China has achieved great success in the field of science and technology, and our students are fascinated by it. Over the years, through the study and sharing of different cultural and technological themes, we have cultivated students' strong interest and curiosity in China. The influence of Chinese culture and science and technology has gradually penetrated the hearts of the people. ”
St Margaret's Secondary School, a comprehensive public school in Malta, was founded in 2010 with the support of the Chinese side to introduce local students to Chinese culture and technology and enhance their understanding of multiculturalism.
Neil, 15, is a loyal lover of Chinese culture. "The 'China Corner' builds a bridge of knowledge for us to understand China and Chinese culture. With the help of Chinese tea ceremony, porcelain, lacquerware, cloud brocade, kite, calligraphy and other themes display and research, we got close to China's history and culture and learned about many Chinese inventions and creations. Neil said that in the "China Corner", everyone seems to be in China, and the process of exploring the charm of China is new and interesting, "We enjoy this kind of learning very much."
"It's great to learn that President Xi Jinping wrote a reply to the teacher and us!" Harley, 14, told reporters that in the "China Point", he learned China's long history and rich humanistic features, discovered China's beauty and prosperity, and longed to travel to China with his teacher one day to more intuitively feel China's rich history, culture and humanities. "Thanks to the wonderful project of 'China Corner', I fell in love with China and the history, culture and people of this country. In the future, I want to participate more in the activities of 'China Corner'. Between the words, Halley was full of hope.
Reno Callea, Chairman of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, said that over the years, St. Margaret's Secondary School has trained a group of young people who understand and love China, and has made positive contributions to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and friendship between the two countries. President Xi Jinping replied to the teachers and students of the "China Corner" of Malta Middle School, so that everyone fully felt President Xi Jinping's approachability and the great importance he attached to the relations between the two countries.
"Bringing together all nations to share peace and prosperity"
The world of datong and harmony are the beautiful vision of human society of the Chinese nation since ancient times, and also the cultural source contained in the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping pointed out in his reply that the history and reality of the world in which we live are intertwined, hopes and challenges coexist, and the destiny of mankind is shared, and only by watching out for each other and achieving win-win cooperation can mankind share the fruits of development.
Maltese boy Stephen Kakia is pursuing a PhD in Chinese historical studies at the University of Exeter, UK. While living in Malta, he often went to the Chinese Cultural Centre in Malta to study, share and communicate. "The ancient Silk Road connected China with Asia, Europe, Africa and other regions. Today, the belt and road initiative has connected the world again in a new way, pooling forces, allowing all countries to share peace and prosperity, and further deepening friendship and exchanges between countries." ”
In 2018, China and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding on intergovernmental cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, drawing a blueprint for expanding cooperation between the two countries in various fields in the new era. Kakia believes that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" from the ancient Silk Road to the present day confirms that from ancient times to the present, people-to-people exchanges, economic cooperation, development and prosperity are the common goals and visions of mankind.
Azopadi said: "I greatly admire President Xi Jinping's foresight and world feelings. Unity is truly strong! Countries should build consensus and find common ground in differences. We need to do more to build bridges of communication and break down barriers. Sharing each other's cultures and histories helps to enhance exchanges and cooperation between countries and reduce friction and conflict, which is important for promoting peaceful development and common prosperity, both in times of peace and in times of crisis. ”
Young people will grow up to be the pillars of the country and shoulder the responsibilities of the times, and they are the hope of the future. "Cultural and educational exchanges can expand the perceptions of young people. Today, Maltese students and Chinese students continue to deepen their mutual understanding, which helps to enhance the friendship between the two countries. The same is true of the world, where understanding deepens and relations draw closer, and relations and cooperation between countries will be smoother and closer. Azopadi said.
"Let more Maltese teachers and students participate in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries"
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, and bilateral relations have become a model for friendly coexistence between countries with different histories and cultures. The cooperation between the two sides in various fields has yielded fruitful results and benefited the people of the two countries.
"'China Corner' has been established for more than 10 years, the theme is grand, the activities are specific and small, involving many aspects of China and Chinese culture, which has a positive effect on strengthening the cultural understanding between China and Malaysia and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, people-to-people friendship and friendship from generation to generation." Yang Xiaolong, director of the Malta Chinese Cultural Center, said that more and more Maltese people are now engaged in friendly exchanges and cultural dissemination between the two countries.
Renowned Maltese photographer Lucienne Spitry travelled to Fujian, China, in 2018 to collect her style, and the word "China" is now particularly gracious and warm to her. "It turns out that Malta and China have become models of friendly coexistence between countries with different histories and cultures. The friendship between the two countries is reflected in the exchanges between the two peoples, and many of my friends around me like China. In the face of the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the governments and peoples of the two countries have always looked forward to each other and walked hand in hand. The friendship between the two countries has lasted for a long time. ”
Chinese Ambassador to Malta Yu Dunhai said that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, teachers and students of St. Margaret's High School in Malta sent a letter to President Xi Jinping, and President Xi Jinping warmly replied to the letter, which achieved a new good story of friendship between the two countries. "The reply fully affirms the positive contribution of the 'China Corner' to promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries, reflects the great importance that President Xi Jinping attaches to the friendship between China and Malaysia, and the deep expectations of the two countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind." He hoped that the teachers and students of the "China Corner" would live up to President Xi Jinping's earnest entrustment, promote mutual learning between the civilizations of the two countries, inherit the friendship between the two peoples, and add new vitality to the friendship between China and Malaysia.
Azopadi said that in the future, he has more motivation to continue to cultivate students' interest in China. He also looks forward to finding a school in China and setting up a "Cape of Malta" to tell the culture and story of Malta, thereby strengthening exchanges and understanding between Malaysia and China. "I sincerely thank President Xi Jinping for his encouragement and support to us. Together with students, I will continue to work hard to spread Chinese culture through the 'China Point', let more Maltese teachers and students participate in the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and strive to be a promoter of mutual learning among civilizations and the inheritors of people-friendliness." ”