To foster friendship and cooperation between China’s Ningxia and other nations, and to showcase the dynamic, open, and innovative Ningxia, the 2024 International Youth Friendship Camp was held with the theme “A Date with Youth in Ningxia,” featuring participation from Bangladesh.
From July 26 to July 31, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region organized the camp. Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office, delivered a speech and presented the flag to the Friendship Camp.d
In her address, Bai Yuzhen warmly welcomed the campers and team leaders from various countries and regions. She emphasized that the camp embodies the belief that the future lies with the youth and vitality in the local community. It serves as a grand gathering for Chinese and foreign youth, fostering closeness and understanding. She hoped that young participants would build friendships, appreciate diverse perspectives, and contribute to a community with a shared future for humanity through mutual learning and cooperation.
Invited by the Foreign Affairs Office, Bangladeshi student Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, a doctoral candidate at Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, represented Bangladesh at the camp.
During the five-day event, young people from various countries built friendships and understanding through interactive exchanges and field visits across Ningxia. They explored the Yinchuan Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center, Ningxia Bairuiyuan Wolfberry Museum, and Ningxia Shapotou National Nature Reserve. These visits provided insights into Ningxia’s unique industries, ecological protection efforts, traditional culture, and local customs. Participants stayed with local families and visited desert camps, experiencing Ningxia’s high-quality development and modern achievements.
Ayaran Rakhmanova, team leader from Kazakhstan, praised the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which attracts many international visitors to China. She admired Ningxia’s harmonious coexistence of diverse ethnic groups and its people’s improved living conditions. She expressed joy in experiencing Ningxia’s hope and vitality firsthand.
Mohammad Saiyedul Islam, the team leader from Bangladesh, shared his experience of witnessing friendship that transcends borders and cultures. He emphasized the importance of communication and mutual understanding among youth from different backgrounds. He described Ningxia as vibrant, open, and innovative, and expressed hope for stronger ties and new stories of collaboration between international youth and Ningxia.
Sophia Nabila from Malaysia remarked that Ningxia had always been on her travel list, and experiencing it firsthand was a significant chapter in her life. She highlighted the camp’s spirit of friendship and unity, noting that it showed how people could celebrate their unique identities together. She extended an invitation to her new friends to visit Malaysia.
Officials from the Foreign Affairs Office of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Party Committee, the Culture and Tourism Department of the Autonomous Region, the Youth League Committee of the Autonomous Region, and Ningxia Radio and Television Station attended the opening ceremony.
The event brought together 34 youth representatives from 12 countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan, along with 13 Chinese youth representatives from Ningxia.
Since its inception in 2002, the Ningxia International Youth Friendship Camp has successfully held 19 sessions, hosting over a thousand foreign youths. The camp has become a significant platform for international youth exchange in Ningxia, promoting people-to-people connectivity and enhancing relations between Ningxia and its international sister cities.
