Beijing Daily:

Mr. Xu, you have been invited back to China multiple times to participate in major events. In a few days, Beijing will hold a grand event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. What are your expectations and thoughts about this event? Thank you.

Xu Songhua:

Thanks for your question. Indeed, I have participated in many major national celebrations in China, including the 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Each experience brought different feelings. This time, I still feel very excited, and like the other overseas representatives, we are all looking forward to and hoping for our motherland to grow stronger. According to media reports, this parade will showcase many new weapons to the world, demonstrating that China's military has grown stronger. Anyone wanting to invade China or interfere with the cause of peaceful reunification should think twice. As overseas Chinese, only when our motherland becomes strong can we all live better abroad, and only then will our children be respected in their local communities. This commemoration sends a message to the world: China is strong. We must stand united with our motherland, and China's future will be even brighter! Thank you.

Guangming Daily:

My question is for Mr. Yu. Mr. Yu, you just gave a detailed account of your 30-plus years of cultural work overseas. What suggestions do you have for promoting exchanges and mutual learning between China and the rest of the world and advancing peaceful development among countries worldwide under the current international situation? Thank you.

Yu Junwu:

Thank you. Since every nation has its own distinct values, unique understandings and perspectives on the world, I believe that overseas Chinese communities serve as crucial bridges connecting different regions and cultures. Your question just now makes me realize that over the past 30 years of cultural inheritance overseas, the overseas Chinese's longing for Chinese culture contains enormous energy. How to gather this energy and channel it to create meaningful impact locally is very important. Let me elaborate more specifically, using the model of the Huaxing Arts Group Sydney as an example. The word "group" in Huaxing Arts Group Sydney not only means an artistic group, but it also means "unity." It is circular, like a barrel hoop, binding together artists and art groups scattered overseas, drawing water from local resources and nourishing the soil of Chinese culture. At the same time, it is also square-shaped, because it leverages its extensive network of affiliated arts groups and rich variety of programs to showcase the artistic forms of the Chinese nation and spread the essence of Chinese culture through various performances. Meanwhile, in its organizational structure, it is triangular. When one group does the work, support comes from all directions. Currently, the Huaxing Arts Group Sydney has 57 different types of art groups and a cast of over 3,000 performers. In the process of development, it has formed the "1×57+4" model. "1" represents the concept of Huaxing, which is integrated and expanded through these 57 affiliated groups, while "4" refers to the four major traditional Chinese festivals: Spring Festival, Double Ninth Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. All teams of the Huaxing Arts Group use these four traditional festivals as opportunities to closely cooperate with local city and county governments, actively participating in the arts festivals organized by these governments, as well as numerous other large and small events. Sydney is a satellite city with more than 10, even dozens of large and small city governments. According to official statistics, the number of people watching the arts festivals organized by the Sydney city government and various levels of government each year reaches millions, with 65% of them being non-Chinese ethnic backgrounds. Therefore, integration into the local community is of great importance in terms of cultural inheritance and dissemination, because only in this way can direct and seamless exchange, interaction and mutual enrichment be achieved. Therefore, immersed in this atmosphere, the Huaxing Arts Group Sydney has pioneered a path of public welfare cultural development. Thank you.