Chongqing - The 2023 "Chongqing Meets Australia" Youth Promotion Officer Competition's final round and award ceremony took place at the Chongqing Window of International Culture and Tourism on July 25th, showcasing a unique approach to cultural exchange.
The final round and award ceremony of the 2023 'Chongqing Meets Australia' Youth Promotion Officer Competition at the Chongqing Window of International Culture and Tourism on July 25th. (Photo courtesy of the event organizer)
Last year, the Chongqing Municipal Cultural and Tourism Commission pioneered an innovative approach to promoting cultural and tourism exchange in collaboration with the Australian Tourism Bureau. The inaugural "Chongqing Meets Australia" competition focused on youth engagement and was met with resounding success, setting a precedent for future iterations.
The 2023 edition of the Youth Promotion Officer Competition began in May this year. It attracted thousands of enthusiastic participants, who underwent rigorous selection rounds and preliminary competitions. The exceptional candidates earned the opportunity to travel to Chongqing's scenic Wulong region for on-site promotion. After navigating numerous challenges, 32 remarkable individuals emerged as finalists, ready for the ultimate face-off.
Participants primarily came from Chongqing and its surrounding regions. In the final event, the young promotion officers delivered captivating speeches in fluent English, championing both Chongqing's Wulong region and Australia. Brimming with confidence and charisma, their presentations elicited hearty applause from the audience. Participant Chen Yanzhuo remarked that the competition deepened his understanding of his hometown and significantly honed his public speaking skills and self-confidence.
Following an intense competition, Xu Xinyue, Yuan Youzhe, and Zhao Chenxi emerged as the champions, securing first, second, and third places, respectively. These triumphant contestants received honorary certificates from the organizers and were rewarded with prizes like round-trip tickets to Australia and an Australian tourism experience package.
Ran Huazhang, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, lauded the contestants' display of confidence, charisma, and cultural understanding. He emphasized the role of these young promotion officers as cultural ambassadors, enhancing the cultural exchange between China and foreign nations.
Over nearly two years, the "Chongqing Meets Australia" initiative has been successful in nurturing talents and fostering mutual understanding. Director Ran Huazhang expressed his hopes for continued growth, envisioning a vibrant cultural and tourism carnival co-created by Chongqing and Australia.
Highlighting the importance of setting an example for cultural and tourism exchanges between China and foreign countries, he envisions Chongqing becoming a prominent international tourist destination, an international exchange hub in western China, and a center for international cultural exchanges.
This event also allowed cultural and tourism enterprises from both regions to strengthen ties and sign strategic cooperation agreements. Notably, the Cairns Tropical Rainforest Skyrail company and the Chongqing Wulong Tourism Industry Group Co., Ltd. entered a strategic cooperation agreement.
Additionally, the Chongqing Window of International Culture and Tourism was designated as the "Australian Tourism Expert Chongqing Training Center," further bolstering its role as a platform for fostering exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing, Australia, and various sectors at both municipal and district levels.