On December 30, 2025, the Ghana Embassy in China was honored to participate in the “Read the World Through Pages and Miles” Youth Exchange Program, a flagship initiative launched by the Contemporary World Press in support of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. The program aims to promote cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and friendship among young people from China and abroad.
A Visit to Dongcheng District, Beijing
The program commenced with a visit to the Longfu Temple Cultural and Creative Park, a historic site that showcases Beijing’s rich cultural heritage. The delegations from other Embassies and universities were warmly received by the park’s management, who provided an introduction to the park’s history, cultural significance, and current development projects. The delegation had the opportunity to tour the park’s Phase II commercial projects, including the Shanshui Outdoor Collection Store, Mahua FunAge A99 Theater, and Qiyuan Tiandi 24/7 Space.
The delegation also viewed the “Century-Old Memories of Longfu Temple” photo exhibition, which highlighted the park’s cultural and historical significance. The visit took participants on a tour of the Longfu Cultural Center and the 9th-floor rooftop of the Longfu Temple Building, where the delegation learned about the park’s construction phases.
A Visit to the Bell and Drum Towers
The delegation continued their tour, arriving at the iconic Bell and Drum Towers, a symbol of Beijing’s rich history and cultural heritage. As they stood before the ancient structures, one of the delegation members noted, “The Bell and Drum Towers are not just historical landmarks, but also a testament to China’s rich cultural heritage.” As we stood before the ancient Bell and Drum Towers, the fading sunlight cast a warm glow on the centuries-old stones. The Drum Tower’s rhythmic beats echoed through the streets, a call to the continuity of life as we know it. We listened in awe as the Bell Tower’s chimes harmonised with the drums, a symphony of tradition and culture. Together, the towers stood as guardians of Beijing’s past, present, and future. In their majestic silence, they whispered secrets of the city’s timeless beauty.
Exploring Beijing’s Cultural Heritage
The next stop on the program was the Beijing Cloisonné Factory, a renowned factory that showcases China’s traditional art of cloisonné, preserving and promoting China’s traditional cloisonné art, creating exquisite and unique pieces that showcase Chinese culture, providing high-quality cloisonné products to meet diverse customer needs, fostering cultural exchange and understanding through the art of cloisonné.
The factory’s meeting room hosted a roundtable dialogue, where distinguished guests from the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, and the Dongcheng District People’s Government of Beijing engaged in discussions with diplomatic envoys, foreign media representatives, and youth representatives.
The roundtable discussion focused on the theme “Welcome the New Year & Celebrate the New Beginning: Exploring a Millennia-Old Cultural Heritage, and Envisioning the Future of Dongcheng.” The Ghanaian delegation contributed to the discussion, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange and mutual understanding in promoting people-to-people diplomacy.
The “Read the World Through Pages and Miles” Youth Exchange Program was a resounding success, providing a platform for young people from China and abroad to engage in cultural exchange, dialogue, and mutual learning. The Ghana Embassy in China expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the program and looks forward to continued collaboration with the Contemporary World Press and other partners to promote cultural exchange and understanding between Ghana and China.
Compiled By: Moses Sackie, Counsellor / Information Officer, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
