The opening ceremony for 2016 Young Overseas Chinese “China Root Seeking” Summer Camp Xiamen, Fujian camp was held at Overseas Education College (OEC) of Xiamen University (XMU) on July 20. Thirty-three young Chinese Americans kicked off their 12-day long “china root seeking trip” in Xiamen.
The event was hosted by Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) of the State Council, organized by OCAO of Fujian Province (Fujian OCAO) and Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xiamen Municipal Government (XM OCAO) and co-organized by XMU OEC. Among the attendees were Qin Dafu, Investigator from Fujian OCAO, Ye Xiaoshan, Section Director of Fujian OCAO, Kong Suting,CPC member from XM OCAO and Vice President of Xiamen People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (XM PAFFC), Li Yongbin, Chief of Press and CulturalAffairsDivision of XM OCAO, Liang Weizhong, Director of the United Front Work Department of the CommunistParty Committee (CPC) of XMU,as well as Vice Dean Fu Wanli and Huang Guanhua, Mr. Lv Zixuan, Deputy Secretary Wu Weiping, teachers of the summer camp and all administrative personnel of XMU OEC.
The ceremony was presided over byLi Yongbin. Kong Suting made a welcoming speech on behalf of the organizers. She extended her warmly welcome to the campers who had comeall the way here and wished that they would seethe development of their home nation and hometown by themselves through this trip. It is expected that through the summer camp, they will not only improve their Chinese proficiency, expand their horizons, make good friends, but also spread Chinese culture by telling their families and friends about their experiences during the camp and becomean ambassador of Sino-US friendship and a contributing member for the country they live in. OEC Vice President Fu Wanli addressed to the audience on behalf of the co-organizer. Shemade a brief introduction about XMU and OEC, assured that OEC would make full supplies for the campers’ study and stay at the campus, and wished that they would appreciate the charm of Chinese culture through fun and enjoyable education. Ms. Chen Ruping, teacher in charge of the U.S. side, and Li Tianyou, representative of the campers, also extended their hearty appreciation for the support and hard work of various organizers. Kong Suting and Huang Guanhua,on behalf of the organizers and the co-organizer respectively,exchanged souvenirs with Chen Ruping.
Kong Suting, Qin Dafu and Liang Weizhong handed out the flag for the summer camptogether and took group photoswith the teachers and students of the camp.
The summer camp will take the form of schoolstudying and site touring, courses such as traditional Chinese painting, paper cutting, calligraphy, martial arts, Chinese knots, Chinese folk music, and “One Belt One Road” featured lectures will be offered, and tours to the scenic attractions in Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and Fuzhou will be organized. Besides, the students are going tojoin other young overseas Chinese from all over the world at a large camp event organized by Fujian OCAO in Mount Wuyi Scenic Resort and have a great time together.
