On July 30, 2025, the opening ceremony of the China-Oceania Youth Exchange Festival was successfully held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. The event was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The theme of this year's festival was the "Cultural Inheritance, Protection, and Innovative Development in Ethnic Minority Areas." Sun Xueqing, Secretary-General of CPAFFC; Liu Yubiao, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Zhe Xiweng, Party Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Arts University; Ruth Maryanne Cross Kwansing, Minister of Women, Youth, Sports, and Social Affairs of Kiribati; and Chariti Latabwi, Vice President of the Nauru-China Friendship Association, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Youth representatives from Australia and New Zealand, participants of Seminar for Young Leaders of Friendly Organizations in Pacific Island Countries from ten countries, including Fiji, Kiribati, and Malaysia, as well as nearly a hundred youth representatives from various organizations, including the All-China Women's Federation, the Communist Youth League Committee, and the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, attended the event.
Secretary-General Sun extended a warm welcome to the youth representatives from various countries, noting that the friendship between the peoples of China and Oceanian Countries has deep historical roots. The two sides' shared cultural traditions and values have laid a solid foundation for long-standing friendship and practical cooperation, with promising prospects for the future. He emphasized that youth are a vital driving force for national development and the next generation of advocates for peace and cooperation between China and Oceanian Countries. Before arriving in the Inner Mongolia, the delegation attended the World Youth Conference for Peace in Beijing, where they heard a congratulatory message from H.E. President Xi Jinping. Secretary-General Sun expressed his hope that, guided by the spirit of message from H.E. President Xi Jinping, the visiting youth would take this opportunity to exchange ideas with their Chinese counterparts, enhance mutual understanding, and build lasting friendships. He encouraged them to become advocates for peace, active participants in peaceful development, and the youthful wisdom and energy contributors to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Speaking on behalf of the international guests, Minister Kwansing thanked the Chinese side for its thoughtful arrangements for the exchange event. She stressed that cultural inheritance and protection are of vital importance to the survival and future development of peoples from the Pacific region, and expressed her wish to learn from China's successful experience in balancing economic growth with the preservation of traditional culture. She also noted that young people are a bridge between the past and the future, and voiced her hope that the youth attending the visit would further deepen friendships with the Chinese people and expand cooperation in culture and other fields.
The festival will feature a series of activities, including discussions, field visits, and cultural performances, to showcase the Inner Mongolia's achievements in cultural preservation, environmental protection, rural revitalization, and technological innovation in recent years. It aims to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Oceanian youth, while exploring future opportunities for cooperation. During the opening ceremony, Chinese and Oceania youth representatives gave vibrant performances of ethnic music and dance, highlighting the rich cultural diversity of both sides.
