2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest kicks off in Seoul

The 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest kicked off on Thursday in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK). The launch ceremony was attended by over 50 people from China and the ROK, including officials, former contest winners, and journalists.

Liu Dawei, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on April 18, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Liu Dawei, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said in a speech that the contest aims to inspire more young people to engage in friendly exchanges between China and the ROK. 

Liu said that, as an organization dedicated to enhancing cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world, CICG will make more contributions to the development of China-ROK relations. He said he hopes the two sides will strengthen people-to-people exchanges and deepen collaboration in the future. 

Xing Haiming, Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Korea, delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on April 18, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Xing Haiming, Chinese ambassador to the ROK, said he hopes Korean youth can take part in the contest to share their perspectives on China and thus contribute to a stronger bilateral relationship.

Ro Jaehun, president of East Asia Culture Center, delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on April 18, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Ro Jaehun, president of East Asia Culture Center, said the Panda Cup provided an opportunity for the youth of both countries to understand each other, and that he hopes the contest will foster a stronger bond between the peoples of the two nations. 

Participants attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the launch ceremony of the 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on April 18, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

A signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between the Center for Asia-Pacific and the Aju News Corporation is held during the launch ceremony of the 2024 Panda Cup South Korean Youth Essay contest in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, on April 18, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

At the ceremony, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed between the Center for Asia-Pacific under CICG and the Aju News Corporation.

Initiated in Japan in 2014, the Panda Cup has expanded to the ROK since 2022, becoming a significant platform for young people to deepen mutual understanding. Themed with "Me and China," this year's contest is inviting young people aged 16 to 35 in the ROK to share their stories about China. The contest will offer various awards and opportunities for winners to visit China.

The event was jointly organized by the Center for Asia-Pacific under CICG and the Aju News Corporation.