Shanxi, Utah ramp up cultural exchanges

Representatives of the Yuncheng People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries sign a memorandum of support for people-to-people exchanges with the Utah-Shanxi Association for Friendship, Cooperation and Exchange on Aug 1. [Photo/Yuncheng Daily] 

Shanxi (Yuncheng)-Utah Roots-seeking and Family Culture Exchange Day was held in Yuncheng, North China's Shanxi province, on Aug 1.

Hu Xiangqian, honorary chairman of the Utah-Shanxi Association for Friendship, Cooperation and Exchange, as well as Ma Xiaomin, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Provincial Government, and other officials from Yuncheng city attended the event. 

It aimed to promote traditional Chinese culture, using family culture as a bond to enhance exchanges and cooperation between Yuncheng in China and Utah in the United States in the fields of culture, education, tourism, and healthcare. 

Hu said he was deeply impressed by Yuncheng's profound humanity and family culture. He hoped Yuncheng would expand its presence globally, and that both sides would engage in various forms of exchanges and cooperation related to family culture, while also promoting innovation in people-to-people exchanges between China and the US. 

Ma echoed Hu's hope and praised the exchanges between Yuncheng and Utah within the provincial and state cooperation framework.

During the event, a book titled A Collection of Yuncheng, Shanxi, China and Utah, America Family Stories was released. 

Meanwhile, the Zhengbang Family Education Guide Center in Yuncheng city was rated as an international humanistic exchange site for Yuncheng-Utah family culture to further boost people-to-people exchanges. 

The Yuncheng People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries signed a memorandum of support for such local exchanges with the Utah-Shanxi Association for Friendship, Cooperation and Exchange. 

Since 2021, Yuncheng has been promoting international exchanges based on the theme of family culture, contributing to Shanxi's opening-up to the outside world. 

Under the framework of Shanxi-Utah cooperation, Yuncheng and Utah have jointly formulated a three-year plan for cooperation and conducted a series of cultural exchanges concerning family culture.

For example, the foreign affairs office of the Yuncheng municipal government, together with Yuncheng Radio and TV Station, produced a promotional clip about family culture and drew great attention at the Home Expo 2022 in Utah. 

Family culture-themed intangible cultural heritage products from Yuncheng were displayed during community activities in Utah.