Delegation of Externado University Of Colombia Visits China

Invited by the CPAFFC， a 67-member delegation organized and sent by the Externado University of Colombia visited Beijing， Xi’an， Shanghai， Suzhou， Guangzhou， Shenzhen and Hong Kong from June 29 to July 16.

In Beijing， the delegation attended a lecture on China’s foreign policy and economic development at the Institute of Latin American Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Song Xiaoping， deputy director of the Institute， as a keynote speaker， briefed the delegation on the outstanding achievements and great changes China had made in the diplomatic and economic fields since reform and opening up. Research fellows of the Institute exchanged views with members of the delegation on the world situation and the global financial crisis. In Shanghai， the delegation attended the lecture on Shanghai’s economic development to know about the policies and measures that Shanghai， an international metropolis， had adopted for its economic development， and its booming economy.

The delegation visited the grand Beijing Olympic venues and the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre with the theme of 2010 Shanghai Expo. The delegation saw thriving scenes in every city and province they visited， the improvement of Chinese people’s life and how reform and opening up had enabled China and the Chinese people to become strong and prosperous. All this helped the delegation get a better knowledge about China’s current social development.

During its stay in China， the delegation took part in varied and colourful cultural activities. To fulfill the wish of Ms. Melba Rocio， member of the delegation and former Colombian table tennis champion， to exchange experience in playing table tennis with the Chinese players， a friendship match was arranged for the delegation in Beijing. At the China National Peking Opera Company (CNPOC)， members of the delegation were very much attracted by Peking Opera’s glamorous costumes and props， characteristic singing， various serious and funny make-ups and lifelike stage performing art. The director of CNPOC’s Second Troupe explained and demonstrated to them the Peking Opera art. Members of the delegation showed great interest in Peking Opera and learned some Peking Opera postures and acts from the director and drew Peking Opera facial masks.

Under the guidance of a National Class-A taijiquan coach， and by watching his demonstrations， members of the delegation learned some basic acts of taijiquan. Revelling in taiji atmosphere， they said in admiration that taijiquan is not only a sport of martial art， but also has a unique function of keeping fit and cultivating one’s character and mind; it has a profound philosophical origin.

Members of the delegation also watched the performances of kungfu， acrobatics and shadow play. They enjoyed these performances very much， for to them， these unique exotic art forms reflected the essence of traditional Chinese culture， through which they got a perceptual knowledge about traditional Chinese arts.