Mr. Lin Baojin addressed at the event and announced the launch of the second competition

Mr. Lin Baojin, Standing Committee Member of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, attended the event and announced the launch of the second competition at the main venue in Fuzhou. Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Office, Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, President of UCLG ASPAC, two representatives of Fuzhou’s international friendship cities, namely Mr. Ubraj Narine, Mayor of Georgetown City, Guyana and Mr. Mokhamad Khadhik, Assistant of the Acting Mayor of Semarang Municipality, Indonesia, and a member representative of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, namely Mr. Krishna Chandra Neupane, Executive Secretary General of Association of District Coordination Committees of Nepal (ADCCN) addressed the event via video link. Mr. Albert Tiang Ming Ing, Chairman of Standing Committee for Market and Petty Traders, Sibu City, Malaysia, was also virtually present at the ceremony as a representative of Fuzhou’s international friendly exchange city. Mr. Lin Jian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou  Municipal Committee, announced the winners of the competition, and Mr. Huang Jianxiong, Deputy Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, Secretary General of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, presided over the event.

During his speech, Mr. Lin Baojin said that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and world heritage conservation. In the congratulatory letter to the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee in 2021, President Xi noted that we should support the cause of world heritage protection, jointly safeguard the cultural and natural treasures of humanity, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Fuzhou, an important gateway of 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and a hub as the strategic fulcrum along the MSR, is the host city of the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee. To practice the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and the message in his congratulatory letter, we launched the First Silk Road International Youth Photography and Short Video Competition themed “Cultural Heritage in My City”. The event  has attracted wide participation of young people at home and abroad, greatly bolstering the exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and properly carrying forward the spirit of the Silk Road. The second competition will be on the theme of“The Beauty of Cultural Diversity” for the younger generation to further experience the charm of cultures in different countries, have a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, and help boost the prosperity and development of cultures around the world. We cordially welcome worldwide young people to visit Fuzhou to seek inspiration and create works that will showcase the world the beauty of China, of Fujian Province and of Fuzhou City. It is hoped that exchanges with Fuzhou’s international friendship cities, our cooperation and friendship can be further enhanced through the link of the Silk Road.

Mr. Shabaz Khan fully affirmed Fuzhou’s notable outcomes in expanding the effect of the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee and highly praised the positive role of the competition in promoting cultural heritage conservation and enhancing friendly exchanges between youths across the world. He hoped that young people of all countries could see the world with appreciation and in a spirit of sharing and mutual learning, promote exchanges and harmony among different cultures, and contribute to the building of a community of shared future for mankind.

President Ashok expressed that the competition has definitely enjoyed wide participation across the Asia-Pacific region by young people. This has given cities in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region the opportunities to share their achievements in cultural heritage conservation and inheritance with the world. The competition has raised the public awareness of the conservation and inheritance of cultural heritage. He encouraged more participation in the coming editions to together strengthen cultural exchanges and friendship between countries.

Mr. Lin Baojin visited the exhibition of the works of the First Silk Road International Youth Photography and Short Video Competition

It’s learned that a total of 857 entries were collected from 32 countries, 76 of which were selected as winning works. Some outstanding entries are on display from December 13 to 17 at  Residence of Yan Family in the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Historic and Cultural District. The second competition will start to collect works in March, 2023.

 Mr. Lin Baojin and other officials visited the exhibition of outstanding entries after the ceremony concluded.