Maltese winners receive awards for China-held "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" event

Lea Helene Briffa (2nd R), who won the "Excellent Award," receives an award at the China Cultural Center in Valletta, Malta, on Aug. 3, 2022. Two Maltese teenagers were presented with awards at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" event in Malta on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)

VALLETTA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two Maltese teenagers were presented with awards at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" event in Malta on Wednesday.

The awards - and the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games - were presented at the China Cultural Center by Counsellor Peng Yijun from the Chinese Embassy. Fourteen-year-old Amelie Calleja won the title of "Junior Cultural Ambassador," while 13-year-old Lea Helene Briffa won the "Excellent Award."

Peng praised the two winners for their excellent performance in this global event, and their efforts to support the Beijing Winter Olympics. Peng encouraged them to continue to learn Chinese, to explore Chinese culture, and promote cultural exchanges and friendship between China and Malta.

In their videos created for the event, both Amelie and Lea demonstrated their passion for learning Chinese, and their love for China and its culture.

Amelie told Xinhua she was excited to be awarded the title of Junior Cultural Ambassador, which would motivate her to study Chinese and learn more about Chinese culture. She added that she was looking forward to visiting China again.

Learning Chinese can enhance Maltese young people's understanding of China and its people, and strengthen the friendship between the two countries, Peng told Xinhua.

Activities similar to the Junior Cultural Ambassadors event are helpful in promoting exchanges and mutual understanding between China and Malta, he added.

The Junior Cultural Ambassadors event was organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation in collaboration with China cultural centers around the world. Since the launch of the event in June 2021, a total of 209 videos made by teenagers from 32 countries from six continents have been received. The China Cultural Center in Malta and the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society worked together to promote the event. 

Amelie Calleja (2nd R), who won the title of "Junior Cultural Ambassador," receives an award at the China Cultural Center in Valletta, Malta, on Aug. 3, 2022. Two Maltese teenagers were presented with awards at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" event in Malta on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)