Chongqing - On December 24, the 2025 "Seeking Unity Across Lands and Seas" Land-Sea International Youth Envoys Annual Event was held at Nanping Experimental Foreign Language Primary School in Chongqing. Youth representatives from multiple countries and regions gathered in the mountain city to engage in cultural exchange and showcase the spirit of youth.
The event included a review of the annual achievements, an award ceremony, speeches, and cultural performances, honoring outstanding young individuals and institutions in cross-cultural communication. Since its launch in February this year, it has invited participants worldwide to submit diverse creative works, such as paintings, essays, and videos, encouraging them to express their cultural insights.
Over 2000 creative submissions were received from China, North America, Western Europe, and 15 countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative. Following a professional evaluation process, 1000 outstanding participants were selected as Land-Sea International Youth Envoys and received various awards. Zhu Jingping, member of the Nan'an District Education Commission and director of the Nan'an District Education Examination Center, highlighted that rooted in the Chinese culture and embracing the spirit of the mountains and waters in Chongqing, these youth envoys tell the true, vivid, and heartwarming stories of Chongqing and China to the world with confidence.
Creative submissions received from different countries and regions, with diverse forms. (Photo/Chongqing Land-Sea Media)
During the cultural performance segment, a chorus of Chinese students lit up the stage, and Sri Lankan students from St. Anthony's College, Kandy, brought their traditional folk dance to the event, inviting the audience to follow their rhythm and creating a true scene of "unity across lands and seas". "It was one of the folk songs that we have in our country. People used to sing that kind of song when they engaged in their day-to-day life related to driving boats, farming, or entertainment," explained K.H. Pubudu Chathmin Fernando, one of the performers. Another performer, Aquinas Suramya Surajan Silva, said, "We all believe that if we can interact with each other, we can create a bond between each other. We could get them to remember us and the spirit we have."
A chorus performed by Chinese students lit up the stage. (Photo/Zeng Junxiang)
The annual event concluded with inspiring speeches from distinguished guests and the young envoys themselves. They highlighted the significance of global understanding, the power of youth-led initiatives, and the unique perspectives brought by participants from diverse backgrounds. "In the future, we will continue to refine the program design, expand into integrated online and offline interactive platforms, and remain committed to nurturing a new generation of youth envoys with both global vision and humanistic warmth," concluded Sang Jian, deputy general manager of Western China International Communication Organization.