STORY: Diplomats explore Huangshan and rural areas in eastern China
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Sept. 13, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:48
LOCATION: HUANGSHAN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various diplomats visiting Huangshan
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KIMBERLY ZAMMIT, Maltese diplomat in China
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): YAN PIROTTA, Kimberly Zammit's husband
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HOMERO KONCURAT, Argentine diplomat in China
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): A. ERDENECHIMEG, Mongolian diplomat in China

STORYLINE:

Diplomats from various countries recently visited Huangshan in China's Anhui Province.

Huangshan City is home to Mount Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its magnificent natural beauty.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KIMBERLY ZAMMIT, Maltese diplomat in China
"From the experience we have as a country, I feel like Anhui has the potential to actually mark itself on the map. We have been discussing this for some time. Actually when people think of China especially in Europe where we came from, people think of Beijing and Shanghai and stop there. But China has so much to offer. There is great potential to put Anhui and this beautiful mountain on the map for tourists to consider visiting once they're in China."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): YAN PIROTTA, Kimberly Zammit's husband
"It's our first time in Anhui, obviously visiting this beautiful mountain. I mean I'm the adventure type. So I love hiking, trekking mountains living the moment. Inside the mountains is something extraordinary."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HOMERO KONCURAT, Argentine diplomat in China
"It's a really great honor for me to be here joining this trip, belonging to 'Discover China cultural tour.'
And for me being in Anhui is a truly great experience. We're having a wonderful day here, discovering the ancient roots of Chinese culture. Today we visited the museum of Anhui and now we are here in Xixinan, discovering great and amazing things and features from China. For us it's a great opportunity to know the true elements of Chinese culture and it's a way also to work on people-to-people diplomacy because in this way we can cooperate more and more between China and our country."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): A. ERDENECHIMEG, Mongolian diplomat in China
"Yesterday, we visited Hongcun, that beautiful traditional village. It's a quintessential example of a Chinese rural settlement, and it has been remarkably well-preserved by the Chinese people over the years. What particularly touched me was the ancient water system in the village. Even after 600 years, this system is still in use. For instance, our guide mentioned that before 8 a.m., the water can be used for drinking, and after 8 a.m., it can be used for washing clothes. This practice reflects a deep respect for nature and a commitment to its preservation. It's an admirable accomplishment by the Chinese people in this regard."

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