News Share (Dec 16-31)

1. New progress made in Xiamen, Wellington film industry exchange

As one of the main activities of the 2021 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, the Golden Rooster International Film Section was held in Xiamen city in East China's Fujian province on Dec 10-30 with a total of 38 select films from 35 countries and regions.

The film Cousins, provided by the New Zealand Film Commission, was selected in the In Competition unit of the Golden Rooster International Film Section after the coordination of the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office and the Department of Internal Affairs of Wellington city in New Zealand.

Set in Wellington, the film is based on the 1992 novel by Patricia Grace. It follows three cousins from a Maori family in different circumstances and tells the story of long-lost sisters searching for each other.

Xiamen and Wellington knotted their sister-city relationship in June 1987. In order to enable Xiamen residents to better experience the exotic customs and scenery of their sister city, the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office has been working since March to encourage and support Wellington city to participate in this year's Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

It was a solid practice of Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office to make better use of sister cities' resources to serve Xiamen's development. 

2. Youth friendly exchange concert unites Xiamen with sister cities

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone in East China's Fujian province.

To celebrate the achievements of Xiamen during this period, and to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with its sister cities under the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the International Youth Friendly Exchange Concert in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Xiamen Special Economic Zone was broadcasted on Xiamen Star TV on Dec 19.

The cloud concert was performed by local youth choirs of Xiamen and youth choirs from Xiamen's 11 sister cities – Cardiff of the United Kingdom, Sasebo of Japan, Wellington of New Zealand, Guadalajara of Mexico, Surabaya of Indonesia, Trier of Germany, Richmond of Canada, Phuket of Thailand, Izmir of Turkey, Netanya of Israel, and Fortaleza of Brazil.

At the end, all the attendees sang Auld Lang Syne, accompanied by the traditional musical instruments of different countries.

The concert not only conveyed the positive energy of mutual help, but also encouraged all countries in the world to unite and cooperate to fight against the pandemic.   

The International Youth Friendly Exchange Concert is one of the brand events of public diplomacy initiated by the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office and the Xiamen People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in 2010.