Tuesday, July 9, 2024 Harriet Parkinson, a rising senior at Brigham Young University, fulfills her childhood dream at the 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival in Fuzhou.
“Coming to China has really been a dream of mine for a long time, from when I was a child,” Harriet Parkinson, a rising senior at Brigham Young University in the United States, said while attending the Bond With Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival, which took place in Fuzhou, Fujian Province in southeast China, on June 24-28.
In the heart of a young American girl, a seed was planted at the age of five. Encouraged by her parents in Minnesota, she embarked on a journey of learning Chinese. In June, she fulfilled her dream of visiting China for the first time, captivated by the new sights and experiences that unfolded before her.
Reflecting on her trip, Parkinson cherishes the friendships she forged and the stories she shared with peers she met in China. The event, a collaborative effort by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Fujian Provincial Government, and the All-China Youth Federation, brought together over 200 American youths alongside more than 300 Chinese counterparts. Throughout the week-long event in Fuzhou, participants engaged in diverse activities including tree planting ceremonies, cultural heritage exhibitions, performances, and sports matches.
Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged the event’s significance in a congratulatory letter, emphasizing th.
