By Huang Fahong from People’s Daily
A series of cultural exchange activities between China and Panama, as well as between China and Latin America were held on Nov. 21 and 22 at Latin American Parliament headquarters, Panama City.
Sharing the stories of China-Latin America and China-Panama relations, cooperation and friendship, these activities, including the inauguration ceremony of the China Pavilion and a China-Panama photo exhibition, received wide attention from the local community.
The China Pavilion, jointly built by China’s State Council Information Office and Latin American Parliament, is the latest outcome of China-Latin America cultural exchanges, while the photo exhibition vividly showcased the natural beauty, unique cultures, and long-lasting friendship of China and Panama.
President of the Latin American Parliament Elias Castillo and President of Panama’s National Assembly Yanibel Abrego attended the activities. They believe that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Panama will serve as a milestone on China-Panama relations.
Panamanian people are looking forward to his visit, and sincerely hope that the heads of state of the two countries can jointly map out a new blueprint of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
As an important gate of Latin America, Panama will actively participate in the Belt and Road construction, and make greater efforts to promote the building of the community of a shared future between China and Latin America. It is hoped that more high-level cultural exchanges can be held in Panama, so as to bring China and its culture closer to the Panamanian people.
The China Pavilion at the Latin America Parliament is the 19th China Pavilion that China has built in the world, and the fourth one in Latin America after those in Peru, Mexico and Cuba.
The design of the pavilion incorporates both traditional and modern features, showcasing Chinese culture while adopting Latin American cultural elements. The pavilion collects over 2,000 books, audios, and videos on China’s economy, politics, culture, society, ecology and technology which are available in four languages, including Chinese, Spanish, English and Portuguese. It is a new platform for Latin America to have a comprehensive understanding of China.
On Nov. 21, a story-sharing secession on China-Panama friendship was held at Panama’s Chinese-Panamanian Cultural Center. Organized by the government of Guangzhou, southern China’s Guangdong province, the event attracted about 300 governmental officials, scholars, teachers, students, and overseas Chinese.
Under the theme of “Belt and Road links China and Panama, win-win cooperation leads to development”, 6 speakers shared wonderful stories of the sustaining friendship between Chinese and Panamanians based on their personal experiences, looking into the bright future to be brought by the joint construction of the Belt and Road.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s books, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, are displayed at the China Pavilion, Latin America Parliament. Photo by Huang Fahong from People’s Daily
Visitors attending the inauguration ceremony of the China Pavilion are viewing photos of China’s natural landscapes. Photo by Huang Fahong from People’s Daily
Panamanian students play Chinese song Mo Li Hua with traditional Chinese musical instruments, erhu, at a story-sharing secession on China-Panama friendship. Photo by Huang Fahong from People’s Daily.
系列人文交流活动助力中国与巴拿马关系深入发展
人民日报记者 黄发红
11月21日至22日，“中国馆”揭牌仪式、“美丽中国 美丽巴拿马”图片展等人文交流活动在巴拿马城拉美议会大厦举行。共话中拉、中巴合作，共叙中拉、中巴友谊，引起了当地民众高度关注和热烈反响。
中国国务院新闻办与拉美议会合作建设的“中国馆”正式开馆，是中拉人文交流结出的最新硕果。“美丽中国 美丽巴拿马”图片展生动展现了中巴两国美丽的自然风貌、独具特色的风俗文化和源远流长的美好情谊。
拉美议会议长卡斯蒂略、巴拿马国民大会主席阿夫雷戈卡斯蒂略等出席活动的人士表示，习近平主席访问巴拿马对于巴中关系具有里程碑意义，巴各界人士热烈欢迎习近平主席来访，衷心期待巴中两国领导人共同描绘双方互利共赢的新蓝图。巴拿马是进入拉美的重要门户，将积极参与“一带一路”建设，为推动中拉命运共同体做出更大努力。希望这种高水平的人文交流活动更多地在巴拿马举办，让巴拿马人民近距离感受中国和中华文化。
拉美议会“中国馆”是中国在全球建成的第十九个中国馆，也是继秘鲁、墨西哥和古巴之后，在拉美地区设立的第四个中国馆。中国馆的整体设计兼顾传统与现代，凸显中华文化特色，同时适当融入拉美文化元素，配备了介绍中国经济、政治、文化、社会、生态、科技等方面的图书和音像影视作品2000余种，涵盖中、西、英、葡4种语言，为拉美地区全面深入了解中国提供了新平台。
21日下午，由广东省广州市主办的中巴友好故事会在中巴文化中心举行，巴国民大会议员和来自两国的政府官员、专家学者、师生代表以及华侨华人等共约300人参加。6位演讲者以“‘一带一路’连中巴·合作共赢谋发展”为主题，结合自己的亲身经历和心路历程，讲述中巴人民友谊历久弥新的精彩故事，展望共建“一带一路”的美好愿景。
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