Reform and opening up broadens China’s civilian diplomacy

Embracing five continents, the Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp is a cross-border, cross-cultural and cross-language activity. With the theme of “peace, friendship and future”, it has built a platform for communication and exchange among young people from all over the world. Since 2005, more than 1,400 young people from 60 countries and regions have participated, leaving countless moving stories.

International diplomacy lies in the intimacy of the respective peoples. Creating this means opening hearts to each other, which begins with the exchange of naturally open teenagers. As Caroline said, the greatest significance of the Camp lies in friendship, communication and discovery.

The city experience activities provide opportunities for the participants to discover the city of Shanghai. They can overlook the tall buildings from the Oriental Pearl Tower; taste the past and present of Shanghai in the historical exhibition hall; and understand Shanghai’s rich culture and inclusive city spirit in the alleys of Tianzifang and on the old streets of Chenghuang Temple.

Chinese cultural interactive experience activities such as paper-cutting, listening to opera, learning martial arts, or sitting on a sedan chair (a chair borne by servants), let foreign teenagers experience the magnificent Chinese culture and taste the ancient oriental aesthetics.

Campers of the 14th Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp pose for a photo at the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower.