By Deng Zhang, Xinyi Li, iChongqing news

Chongqing - On October 15, the establishment ceremony of Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base was held at the former site of Roosevelt Library in the Chongqing Children's Library. Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture Tourism Development, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, relevant departments of Chongqing Research Tourism Association, some primary and secondary school students, and the Sino-American Friendship Association participated in the ceremony.

“We look forward to further strengthening cooperation with Chongqing Cultural and Tourism Development Committee, to jointly create a favorable environment for Chongqing's global development.” Said Zhang Jinping, chairman of the Sino-American Friendship Association at the ceremony.

This is the first station for the team of Chaminade College Preparatory High School, Los Angeles, USA, during the five-day trip to Chongqing. The team will attend a friendly competition on basketball on the evening of October 16. Moreover, they will go to Tongliang and Bishan to expand their cultural exchanges. 

On October 15, the establishment ceremony of Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base was held at the former site of Roosevelt Library in the Chongqing Children's Library

A platform of cultural exchanges of young people with the world

At the ceremony, Liu Qi, Secretary of Party Committee and Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, awarded Chongqing Children’s Library as the Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base. Meanwhile, Tan Bisheng, Head of Chongqing Children’s Library, and Zhang Jinping unveiled the bronze statue of President Roosevelt together.

Zhang Jinping, Chairman of Sino-American Friendship Association, and Tan Bisheng, Head of Chongqing Children’s Library, unveiled the bronze statue of President Roosevelt together

Tan Bisheng introduced the historical exhibition of the Roosevelt Library to the American team. The Roosevelt Library was built in 1947 to commemorate President Roosevelt and was developed based on the former National Government Central Library. It is now a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit and is managed by the Municipal Children's Library.

The team of the United States

Chongqing Children's Library is a high-level national library with rich experience in youth service. There are precious cultural relics and foreign historical resources – the former site of Roosevelt Library Site. After becoming the Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base, it will give full play to its advantages and develop long-term experience projects such as calligraphy, tea art, Guqin, and other intangible cultural heritage skills for international teenagers. Moreover, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture Tourism Development, the listing of the base provides an excellent platform for the development of multi-level, multi-channel, and multi-form to international teenagers. Additionally, it also helps to strengthen the cultural exchanges of young people between the city and the world to enhance the city's foreign culture and expand cultural tourism and international cooperation in Chongqing.

After the ceremony, teachers and students, from Chaminade College Preparatory High School, experienced local cultural features such as Guqin, painting of Liangping, calligraphy, tea, and Tai Chi in the Roosevelt Library.

“Different art things are great for our students,” said Bryan Cantwell, the coach of Chaminade College Preparatory High School. He thought these cultural activities interact with students. The base offers an opportunity for students, who come from the local and foreign countries, to communicate with each other. “We are honored to be here to represent the United States, for the delegation of FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt), one of the greatest presidents for the library.” Said Bryan.

Students were painting on the fan

“With the establishment of the base, we, as the Sino-American Friendship Association, is looking forward to the communication and exchanges of teenagers from both China and the United States.” Said Vice-chairman of Sino-American Friendship Association.

When experiencing cultural items, to paint on a fan, an American student said it was his first time to do this kind of cultural activity, and he felt so excited to experience Chinese traditional culture things here in Chongqing. Another student said he would like to bring some Chongqing local tea back to the U.S. to his parents and families as a gift. 

Bryan Cantwell and his artwork of paper-cutting

"Chongqing International Youth Research Tourism Base is a fantastic and excellent platform for Chongqing to deepen the communication and exchanges between Chongqing and the world," said Qin Dingbo, Deputy Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development. "To strengthen the friendship between the city and other countries, we will continually conduct international activities. For example, we'd like to bring overseas students to this base to attend some cultural activities to promote Chinese and Chongqing culture to the world."