A nine-member youth delegation from Indonesia visited a university in Shanxi province on Friday for cross-cultural exchanges.
"After meeting face to face with young people from Shanxi, I didn't feel the least bit like a stranger," said Fathie Alwina Sampaguita, secretary of the Indonesia-China Friendship Association. "As young people, we have so much in common—curiosity, ambition, and the same sense of humor."
"The best way for young people in our two countries to build connections and maintain sound relations is through more two-way communication and in-person visits," said David Liang, a young Indonesian entrepreneur.
The delegation visited Taiyuan Normal University, where the event opened with a thundering performance of Weifeng gong-and-drum, an iconic Shanxi folk art. Before the drumbeats had faded, delegation members stepped forward to try their hand at the instruments under the guidance of Chinese students.
"Music knows no borders. When I strike the drums, they can feel the passion and uplifting energy right away," said Yan Changyu, a member of the university's gong-and-drum troupe. "The delight in their eyes was unmistakable."
Felicia Angel, an Indonesian postgraduate student at the university, has studied and lived in China for more than a year. "I have felt the warmth of young people in Shanxi. They are knowledgeable, treat everyone as equals, and are open to different cultures," she said.
In her view, youth exchanges serve as a vital bond to consolidate and deepen the friendship between the two countries.
Li Jailu and Chen Shuo contributed to this story.
