1. Xiamen attends South-South cities exchange
The South-South cities online experience exchange meeting, which was hosted by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, was held on Nov 30.
In order to strengthen global cooperation and international dialogue on the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kulangsu (Gulangyu), a Historic International Settlement, and develop practical exchanges between Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and Cartagena in Colombia, and through the active promotion of the Xiamen foreign affairs office, the Gulangyu Island management committee and the government of Cartagena in Colombia participated in the online meeting.
They exchanged views with Lima in Peru, Guanajuato in Mexico and other cities on the protection, development and promotion of historical and cultural heritage.
At the meeting, Lin Na, vice-president of the Xiamen Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that although thousands of miles apart, Cartagena and Xiamen are both famous tourism, exhibition and port cities with great potential for cooperation.
She hoped that the two cities can take this exchange as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and promote bilateral relations.
2. Xiamen event enhances China-Philippines cultural exchange
A China-Philippines cultural exchange event co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the government of Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations of the Philippines Foundation Inc was held in Xiamen and Manila on Dec 8.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said in his speech that the event is an important platform for promoting people-to-people exchange and mutual learning between China and the Philippines and will promote Xiamen's culture to the world.
Xiamen Mayor Huang Wenhui also attended the event and said that Xiamen is an important participant in China-Philippines cooperation. The city will further strengthen practical exchange and cooperation to help deepen the friendship between China and the Philippines.
Xiamen's intangible cultural heritage, economic and social development, and latest achievements in the construction of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District were displayed and introduced during the event.
3. Young artists exhibition enhances Xiamen, Wellington ties
The Wellington China Young Artists Exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand was unveiled in Wellington, capital of New Zealand, on Dec 12.
In order to tell the story of Xiamen and Wellington's sister-city relationship over the past 35 years, the foreign affairs office of Xiamen in East China's Fujian province, together with the city's education bureau and the Xiamen Youth and Children's Palace, organized for 11 local middle schools to contribute artworks to the exhibition.
The 22 artworks selected for the exhibition included Chinese paintings, oil paintings, sketches and paper-cutting works. They showed the traditional and distinctive elements of Xiamen, such as bougainvillea, Gulangyu Island and Haicang Bridge.
A painting created by Zhang Jingwu, a student of Jimei Middle School in Xiamen, was included in the stamp album commemorating the 50th anniversary.
The exhibition, with nearly 130 works on display, will run until Dec 21.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
