UK students offer perspectives on GBA

A launch ceremony for the video series Touching the Greater Bay Area was held in London on Oct 17.

The series was jointly created by Guangdong Radio and Television and People's Daily Online UK and covers the experiences of 10 British university students who visited the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, or GBA, during the past summer.

The students explored the GBA's life and development in various aspects, including local culture, environment, innovative education, and advanced technologies and shared their experiences in the five 15-minute episodes.

"This project aims to foster multi-dimensional exchanges and friendships between Chinese and British students," said Wang Donghui, deputy director of Guangdong Radio and Television Station External Communication Center, who spoke during the launch ceremony at the Cultural Section of China's embassy in the UK.

"Through this project, we hope to help more international audiences, especially the younger generation, appreciate the charm and potential of the Greater Bay Area, while gaining a deeper understanding of the real Guangdong, the real GBA, and the real China – along with its authentic and rich traditional culture.

"This program not only presents the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture, the vigorous momentum of the high-quality development through a Chinese path to modernization, but also weaves hearts together with threads that transcend thousands of miles and cultural differences."

Wang Yun, counsellor at China's embassy, said the program presents the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture and brought Chinese and British people's hearts closer.

"We hope that today's event will serve as an opportunity to inspire more, to participate in the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK, and to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples," Wang said.

HJ Colston-Inge, director of the British educational charity Engage with China, who studied Chinese 30 years ago, said it is exciting to see young people going to China to get first-hand experiences.

"China is very lovely for me," said Colston-Inge, who also showed photos of Shenzhen, both in 1985 during her visit and today. "That's what fascinates me: having witnessed China from 1985 until now, and I've gone back regularly to visit and make friends … Just being on the ground, seeing it for yourself."

She also said she expected more young Britons to visit China, to experience local people's lives and expel misconceptions.

Five British students shared memories of their days in the GBA at the ceremony.

Romano from the London School of Economics and Political Science created a short video about the environment in the GBA, looking at how local governments had taken steps to make sure rare species continue to exist.

"We had a great time overall," he said.