Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On July 5, the closing ceremony of the "Chinese Bridge - 'Flying Tigers' themed American Youth Summer Camp in China" was held in the 4K studio of Yunnan Radio and Television. Jeffrey Green, Chairman of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, Ding Liguo, Director of the Exchange Division of the China-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, Hu Jinming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Yunnan Normal University, Zhao Derong, Deputy Director and Party Group Member of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and Member of the Provincial Party Committee's Education Working Committee, and Li Xiaofeng, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of Yunnan Radio and Television, and other leaders attended the ceremony.

Closing Ceremony of the "Chinese Bridge - 'Flying Tigers' Themed American Youth Summer Camp in China"

On September 12, 2023, President Xi Jinping wrote to Green, Chairman of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, and Flying Tigers veterans Moyer and McMullen, emphasizing that "the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations in the new era requires the participation and support of the Flying Tigers in the new era. I hope that the spirit of the Flying Tigers can be passed down from generation to generation between the people of the two countries." In November 2023, during his visit to the United States, President Xi Jinping announced that China is willing to invite 50,000 American teenagers to come to China for exchanges and studies in the next five years. In order to implement President Xi Jinping's important initiative, the "Chinese Bridge-'Flying Tigers' Theme American Youth Summer Camp in China" hosted by the China-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education and the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation and undertaken by Yunnan Normal University and Yunnan Radio and Television Station was held as scheduled on June 24, 2024.

The "Chinese Bridge - 'Flying Tigers' themed American Youth Summer Camp in China" has rich and colorful activities

Good times are fleeting. In the past fourteen days, 70 American teachers and students from New York, San Francisco, Minnesota and other places went to Beijing, Kunming and Tengchong respectively, observing China with their own eyes, listening to China with their own ears, and measuring China with their own steps. While exploring the historical memory of win-win cooperation between China and the United States, they also saw a credible, lovely and respectable image of China. This journey is a precious memory in the lives of the campers, and it is also a vivid practice of continuing the friendship between China and the United States in the new era.

Ding Liguo, Director of the Communication Department of the Chinese and Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, delivered a speech

In his speech, Ding Liguo, on behalf of the China Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, expressed warm congratulations on the successful holding of this summer camp. He said: The exchanges between Chinese and American youth will inject vigorous impetus into the healthy development of bilateral relations. The Language Exchange and Cooperation Center welcomes more American young friends to visit China and experience the new atmosphere of Chinese modernization.

Jeffrey Green, Chairman of the US-China Aviation Heritage Foundation, delivered a speech

Jeffrey Green expressed his gratitude to President Xi Jinping for inviting American teenagers to visit and study in China. He hoped that the campers of the Flying Tigers summer camp would share with their family and friends in the United States the history of China and the United States fighting side by side, the natural landscapes and cultural customs that they saw and felt in China, and the enthusiasm and kindness of the Chinese people after returning to the United States, so that they can understand the real China.

Hu Jinming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Yunnan Normal University, delivered a speech

Hu Jinming said: The successful holding of the Chinese Bridge-"Flying Tigers" summer camp is a new starting point for writing a new chapter of friendly cooperation between the Chinese and American people. Through this journey, more American people have learned about the deep friendship between the Chinese and American people that has been tested by war. In the future, more Chinese and American young people will be willing to become the inheritors of the "Flying Tigers" spirit.

Li Xiaofeng, member of the Party Committee and deputy director of Yunnan Radio and Television Station, delivered a speech

Li Xiaofeng said: This summer camp is not only a journey to continue the friendship, but also an opportunity for cultural exchange. We hope and welcome people from all over the world to come to Yunnan and China more often in the future to discover and experience all aspects of China, learn and understand China's profound culture, inherit the precious friendship between China and the United States, and work together to make the future better.

Campers share their thoughts on the "Chinese Bridge - 'Flying Tigers' themed American Youth Summer Camp in China"

At the closing ceremony, the campers reviewed the wonderful moments of this trip to China through the short film "Summer Memories". During this trip, they appreciated the majestic magnificence of China's splendid mountains and rivers, felt the profoundness of Chinese culture, touched the pulse of modern China's development, and realized the deep friendship between China and the United States forged in blood and fire. The campers said that this summer camp was a fulfilling and meaningful journey. During this journey, they saw the real and three-dimensional China, felt the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Chinese people, and realized the importance of continuing the friendship between China and the United States. They will become the folk envoys of the friendship between China and the United States and make their own contributions to the cause of friendship between China and the United States.

Campers show off their Chinese handmade paper-cut works

Campers show their learning results of Chinese musical instruments: playing the Hulusi

Interactive game "You describe and I guess"

The interactive game "You Describe, I Guess" carefully designed by the event organizers for the campers also brought the joyful atmosphere to a climax.

Campers watching wonderful performances

Poetry recitation: "We Live and Die Together"

At the end of the closing ceremony, the campers and students from Kunming Foreign Language School recited the poem "We Live and Die Together" to relive the moving history of the "Hump Flight" and pay tribute to the anti-Japanese war heroes who sacrificed their lives for world peace and Sino-US friendship. Afterwards, Chinese and foreign young people sang a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" to express their beautiful hope that "the friendship between the Chinese and American people will last forever."

Chorus: Auld Lang Syne

"The hope of China-US relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the people, and the future lies in the youth." On July 1, 2024, President Xi Jinping pointed out in his message to the American youth "Youth Journey" exchange group: I hope that through this visit, you will feel, experience and understand China, communicate and interact with Chinese young people, become good partners and good friends, build more bridges of mutual understanding and affection between the two peoples, and contribute to enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Group photo at the closing ceremony

This summer camp activity responded to President Xi Jinping's expectations. Based on the "story of the Flying Tigers that spanned centuries and the Flying Tigers friendship forged by the Chinese and American people", it built a "bridge of friendship" between the young people of China and the United States, injecting "youth power" into Sino-US friendship. In the next five years, more American teenagers will come to China with the help of this platform. These teenagers will become the inheritors of the "Flying Tigers spirit", the melters of the Sino-US estrangement, and the transmitters of Sino-US friendship, bringing vitality to the stable development of Sino-US relations.