Kunming, China, November 14, “Yunnan University School of Journalism 2023 South Asia and Southeast Asia International Youth Visiting Project: ‘One Belt, One Road’ Friends Understanding Yunnan” was launched in Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. 20 communication students and young media practitioners from Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries will use their cameras to experience the natural and human environment of Yunnan and the achievements of building the “Belt and Road”, and produce micro-documentary works, Twenty communication students and young media practitioners from Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries will use their lenses to experience the natural and humanistic environment of Yunnan and the achievements of the “Belt and Road”, and produce micro-documentaries.
Jointly organised by the School of Journalism of Yunnan University, the Department of Journalism and Communication of the Communication University of China and the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University, the programme aims to provide a platform for outstanding young people from South and South-East Asian countries to learn and exchange ideas, and to hone their documentary production skills while experiencing the rich culture of Yunnan.
Zi Bingxiang, Vice Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Chenggong District Party Committee, said in his speech that Chenggong is a land with deep cultural heritage, including ancient Yunnan culture, anti-war culture and non-heritage culture. I hope that all international young people will take advantage of this opportunity to focus on the “Belt and Road” initiative, focusing on this fertile land of rich cultural heritage in Chenggong, and promote international cultural exchanges and cooperation.
Liao Shengqing, dean of the School of Journalism of Yunnan University, said he hoped that through this activity, the international youth would deepen their understanding of Yunnan’s history, culture, ethnic diversity and biodiversity, and create excellent documentaries, which would become a window for countries to understand Yunnan.
Gautam Ramila, a media practitioner from Nepal who has studied and lived in Beijing, is visiting Yunnan for the first time. “The similarities between Yunnan and Nepal in terms of climate and multi-ethnicity make me feel very close to the country, while the well-connected transport and high-speed development here is astounding.” Renmira said she is looking forward to improving her documentary filming through this trip, hoping to let more people know about Yunnan through her work, and also hoping to bring back to Nepal the excellent experience she learnt.
The 10-day project will see young people from different countries visit the New City Exhibition Centre and the Dounan Flower Trade Centre in Chenggong, Kunming, as well as a research trip to Jianshui to study the traditional Chinese village of Tuanshan and the craft of purple pottery in Jianshui. In addition, a number of experts and scholars from the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, the Yunnan Centre for International Communication in South and Southeast Asia, the Communication University of China and Yunnan University will deliver a number of lectures on special topics.
