STORY: Cross-culture exchange experiences invaluable: U.S. youth exchange delegation
SHOOTING TIME: July 4/5, 2024
DATELINE: July 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:35
LOCATION: SHIJIAZHUANG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the "Shared Journey of Friendship" U.S. Youth Exchange Delegation visiting Shijiazhuang
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KIMORI DOUGLASS, Student of Steilacoom High School, the United States
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SAKINA COTTON, Student of Phillips Academy Andover, the United States
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): STEPHEN LOCKE, Director of the U.S.-China Youth and Students Exchange Association

STORYLINE:

The "Shared Journey of Friendship" U.S. Youth Exchange Delegation visited Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province from July 4 to 6.

The delegation consists of around 190 teachers and students from 14 schools in seven states across the United States.

During their visit to Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, students from the two countries held group discussions on topics of common concern.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KIMORI DOUGLASS, Student of Steilacoom High School, the United States
"The perspectives are different from different parts of the countries and different parts of the world. Doing this can definitely strengthen our bonds and could definitely come up with the solution with the problems."

The students from China and the United States also worked together to paint a 100-meter scroll to express their wishes for a lasting friendship between the two peoples.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SAKINA COTTON, Student of Phillips Academy Andover, the United States
"We can have some sort of unity because that's gonna be really important if we want to work towards a better world. Today we talked about sort of like climate change and actions that we can take. To put it in perspective that it needs to be a full world effort and we can't do that without working together. So that's why we drew the picture."

The delegation visited the Hebei Museum to learn about Chinese history and culture.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): STEPHEN LOCKE, Director of the U.S.-China Youth and Students Exchange Association
"The cross-culture exchange experiences like this are invaluable between the Chinese and the American schools and particularly at the younger age. Because I know that every one of these kids, when they go back home and their parents ask them how was it, the kids are gonna be so excited to share with them how invaluable it was, and I know they will be grateful for the opportunity."

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