QI Yue festival lifts Zambia-China cultural relations

The Zambian government has reiterated its dedication to strengthening international ties through arts and education, following the successful launch of the inaugural Qi Yue Recitation Performance Festival in Lusaka. Speaking at the high-profile event, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima emphasized that cultural diplomacy plays a critical role in reinforcing the deep-seated diplomatic and bilateral relations shared between Zambia and the People's Republic of China. The festival featured vibrant poetry and prose recitation performances by students from local Chinese language schools as well as scholars from the Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia. Mr. Syakalima noted that the administration places profound value on educational frameworks that transcend traditional classroom instruction. By engaging young learners in cross-cultural artistic showcases, students gain an appreciation for diverse traditions, fostering mutual respect and people-to-people connectivity. The education minister praised the organizers for creating a platform that allows Zambian youth to interact directly with Chinese literary arts, highlighting how soft power initiatives continue to build bridges between the two nations. Adding strategic depth to the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jin pointed out that the launch of the Qi Yue Adolescent Recitation Performance Festival coincides with broader commemorative milestones marking decades of robust diplomatic cooperation between China and African nations. Ambassador Han underscored that cultural exchanges serve as the bedrock of sustainable friendship, ensuring that bilateral partnerships evolve beyond economic and infrastructure cooperation to deeply resonate within local communities and younger generations. Meanwhile, University of Zambia Vice-Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya announced important academic developments tied to ongoing bilateral educational cooperation. Professor Muya revealed that the Confucius Institute i