STORY: Youths gather in China's Fujian to build new bridges of Sino-U.S. friendship
SHOOTING TIME: June 25-26, 2024
DATELINE: June 27, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:10
LOCATION: FUZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of youths at "Bond with Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival"
2. various of the event
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TORIN SAMPLES, Student from the University of Washington, the U.S.
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JENNIFER LEE, Medical student from the University of Michigan, the U.S.
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANNE WEN, American student at Peking University
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LONDON THOMAS, American high school student from Washington State, the U.S.
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): LOU KOHLER VOINOV, American student studying at Tsinghua University
8. various of Kuliang
9. various of the event
10. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): MAYA TAN, Student from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, the U.S.
11. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): SOPHIA DATTA, American student studying at Tsinghua University

STORYLINE:

About 500 young people from both China and the U.S. are gathering in Fuzhou, China's Fujian Province for the "Bond with Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival."

During the week-long event which kicked off on Monday, a variety of exchange activities have opened a window for American youths to gain a deeper understanding of China.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TORIN SAMPLES, Student from the University of Washington, the U.S.
"I think this program is really necessary for what we're trying to do. And bridging the gap between China and the U.S. really starts with the younger generation now, because we're gonna be growing up to become the future."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JENNIFER LEE, Medical student from the University of Michigan, the U.S.
"I've got to meet a lot of them, amazing people here. We were invited by the Peking Medical Union College, so we've been able to interact with a lot of the physicians there, and have been able to network with them and connect with them and learn about how medicine in China is practiced."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANNE WEN, American student at Peking University
"Here, I've never realized that they are flowers, and you could wear these. I found it very exciting to see the different parts of Chinese aspects."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LONDON THOMAS, American high school student from Washington State, the U.S.
"I guess (it's) like a new appreciation for Chinese culture. I've always thought it's very beautiful, but like to be in it is different."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): LOU KOHLER VOINOV, American student studying at Tsinghua University
"Having the privilege to study here and to live here, to really be immersed in the culture in the education system, is really what helps destroy all stereotypes."

Kuliang, known as Guling in Mandarin, was a popular summer retreat for foreigners in the suburbs of Fuzhou, including many Americans, who lived harmoniously with local Chinese residents from the 1880s onwards. 

At the China-U.S. youth festival in Fuzhou, many American students have also established friendships with their Chinese peers, which they will treasure for a really long time. 

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): MAYA TAN, Student from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, the U.S.
"She is a student who goes to university in Fuzhou, and so she basically was like my really awesome tour guide and she got to show me all the places that local people went. And I think that was really valuable and I think I'm gonna treasure that for a really long time."

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): SOPHIA DATTA, American student studying at Tsinghua University
"It's been really great to get to know other students. You know, push beyond the conventional national boundaries that we have."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Fuzhou, China.
(XHTV)