On July 10, 2025, the opening ceremony of the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival was held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The event is co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Fujian Province. Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee; Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC; Thomas Hemenway, a descendant of the Hemenway family and representative of “Kuliang Friends”; as well as representatives of Chinese and American youth, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the United States of America, delivered his congratulations via video. Zhao Long, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Governor of Fujian Province, presided over the opening ceremony. Other distinguished attendees included Fujian provincial officials Zhou Lianqing and Wang Jinfu, and CPAFFC Vice President Shen Xin.
In his keynote speech, Vice Chairman Zhang Qingwei emphasized that, under the personal care and leadership of President Xi Jinping, the story of Kuliang has continued to be carried forward, and the century-old legacy of Kuliang has been revived with renewed vitality. He expressed hope that youth from China and the United States would join hands—bonded by Bond with Kuliang, connected by cultural exchange, and inspired by friendship—to write a new chapter in the story of China-U.S. people-to-people ties.
Zhou Zuyi described the Bond with Kuliang as a vivid symbol of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. He pledged that Fujian would earnestly implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's messages on the Bond with Kuliang initiative, and further expand youth and subnational exchanges with the U.S. to write more Kuliang stories and carry forward the legacy of Kuliang.
President Yang Wanming expressed hope that this Choir Festival would deepen mutual understanding and friendship among youth from two countries, and that they would become advocates of dialogue, pioneers of cooperation, and torchbearers of enduring friendship. He encouraged them to contribute youthful energy to the sound development of China-U.S. relations, global peace and solidarity, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In his video message, Ambassador Xie Feng emphasized that, as two major countries, peaceful coexistence between China and the United States is both a natural obligation and a shared responsibility for safeguarding global peace. He expressed hope that the youth of two countries would sing for peace, build peace together, learn from one another, and foster mutual understanding. He urged them to become a vital force in shaping correct perceptions, enhancing mutual trust and promoting world peace and development. He called on the youth to empower China-U.S. relations with the vigor of youth, to strengthen people-to-people friendship through youthful enthusiasm, and to contribute to the shared future of humanity through the creativity and commitment of the younger generation.
Thomas Hemenway shared moving stories of his ancestor, Dr. Ruth Hemenway, who lived and worked alongside the Chinese people in the last century. He called for greater unity and mutual trust between the two peoples, advocating shared responsibility and greater contributions to global peace and development.
Youth representatives from China and the U.S. affirmed that music is a universal language that transcends borders. Singing together allows young voices to advocate for peace. They pledged to carry forward the history and friendship between the two countries, using music to bridge cultures and build a better future together.
At the opening ceremony, Guo Ningning, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, announced several new milestones in Fujian-U.S. friendship. These included: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Fujian People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association; the establishment of "Flying Tigers Friendship Schools" between Fuzhou Pingdong Middle School and schools in Iowa and California; and the official launch of the bilingual Bond with Kuliang account on Xiaohongshu. The opening ceremony culminated in a heartfelt joint performance of the song "Kuliang! Kuliang!" by Chinese and American youth, bringing the audience to a moving finale.
With the theme "Singing for Peace", the 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival brings together nearly 30 youth choirs and over 1,000 young singers from two countries. It is the largest thematic youth exchange event held since the launch of the important initiative of "inviting 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years". Throughout the Choir Festival, a vibrant program of events will take place in Fuzhou and Beijing, including joint concerts, masterclasses, campus visits, street performances, cultural excursions, and interactive friendship-building activities.
