The Confucius Institute of the University of Valencia makes James I known in China

The initiative, which is being organised for the second time in this city in the north-east of the country, is complementary to the one that has been held in Valencia for the last seven editions. In the Valencian case, the figure being highlighted is that of the Chinese thinker Confucius. In both competitions, students from primary school and the first years of secondary school reinterpret a fantastic story about the arrival of these two important historical figures in their cities with a drawing. And silk is the common factor that leads to Confucius arriving in Valencia and James I in Changchun. In the seventh edition, which was held in Valencia last November, more than 1,200 schoolchildren from a dozen Valencian schools took part, a similar figure to that reached in the Chinese case, and who came from various schools in their province.

In the words of the director of the ICUV, these two competitions "establish a story and a fruitful cultural dialogue between the two societies, Chinese and Valencian, which share much more than it seems at first glance. And we do it in a playful and artistic way, and from schools, between 6 and 14 years old, when students are more receptive". Since the first edition began in València in 2016, dozens of schools in the city and the metropolitan area have taken part and more than 5,000 school drawings have been entered.

The two cities, in addition to their Confucius Institute, are also linked by a mutual appreciation and interest in sharing cultural and academic initiatives. In the summer of 2021, a High Level Tourism Conference was held online between Changchun and Valencia, as well as their respective provinces, Jilin and the Autonomous Community of Valencia. This meeting led to proposals for exchanges that will be carried out shortly, such as a visit by Changchun schoolchildren to our city and vice versa.