On November 24, the China-Republic of Korea (ROK) Affinity Cultural Festival themed on "Korean Traditional Culture and Kashgar Charms", took place in Suwon, ROK. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Korea China Association for Cultural Exchange. Attendees included Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC; Shen Xiaogang, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the ROK; Qu Huan, Head of the Korea China Association for Cultural Exchange; Lee Hee-sup, Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS); and Master Deyun, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Dou Xuemei, Director of the Publicity Department of Kashgar Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the Communist Party of China, led an economic, trade and cultural delegation participated in relevant activities. The event attracted approximately 200 participants from political, economic, cultural, and other sectors in the ROK.
President Yang Wanming welcomed and thanked the guests for their attendance. He highlighted that China and the ROK are both part of the Asian cultural circle, sharing deep cultural and value-based affinities that serve as a bond between the two peoples. Yang emphasized that cultural exchanges act as a bridge for heart-to-heart communication, playing a critical role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship. He noted the unique opportunity presented by inviting the Kashgar Prefecture of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the ROK. Kashgar’s delegation performed songs and dances with distinctive ethnic characteristics and showcased intangible cultural heritage products, fostering an appreciation of China's diverse cultural traditions. Yang expressed hope that such cultural collaborations would serve as a platform for people-to-people connectivity and friendly exchanges, further strengthening mutual learning between civilizations and advancing people-to-people relations between China and the ROK.
Yang also praised the Korea China Association for Cultural Exchange for its long-standing contributions to fostering China-ROK friendship and strengthening people-to-people bonds. He expressed his commitment to deepening future cooperation with the organization, proposing the joint building of bridges for people-to-people exchanges, pragmatic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and youth friendship. Additionally, Yang acknowledged the support provided by the TCS in institutionalizing cooperation among China, Japan, and the ROK. He introduced the role of the CPAFFC in facilitating local government cooperation among the three nations and extended an invitation to Secretary-General Lee Hee-sup to lead a delegation to the 26th China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference, which will be held next year in Yancheng, Jiangsu, China.
Qu Huan expressed her gratitude to President Yang and his delegation for attending the event. She reaffirmed the organization's commitment to maintaining close cooperation with the CPAFFC and vowed to deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, people-to-people exchanges, Buddhism, and youth engagement. Qu emphasized the importance of contributing people's efforts to foster mutual understanding, friendship, and trust between the peoples of the two countries.
During the festival, the Korean side showcased traditional Korean folk music and dance, calligraphy, the tea ceremony, and other culture highlights. Meanwhile, the Chinese delegation displayed landscape and cultural photographs as well as intangible cultural heritage products from Kashgar. Performers from the Kashgar Song and Dance Troupe presented captivating songs and dances that reflected the region's ethnic characteristics. The event culminated with performers from both sides singing the Chinese song Friends alongside the audience, symbolizing the unity and shared aspirations of the two nations.
