(Bandar Seri Begawan, 23rd) Zhang Jingtao, Chairman of the World Friends Festival Organizing Committee, stated that tonight in Bandar Seri Begawan, the warmth is palpable, as the 10th World Friends Festival International Cultural and Artistic Exchange Conference is successfully inaugurated here.
He said, standing here, my heart is filled with emotion and gratitude—there are so many feelings and thanks that I can hardly forget, for the 10th World Friends Festival to be held in Brunei. From my good friend Zhang Tao’s companion Hu Ruiwen, connecting with President Yang Zhensheng who enthusiastically arranged our participation, to meeting the chivalrous Head Coach Li Hui at the event, then, through him, forming a bond with the esteemed Mr. Yu Qing, and ultimately working hand in hand with the witty and wise President Yang Zhensheng—in everyone’s wholehearted support, we managed to realize today’s event in a very short time.
Zhang Jingtao expressed these sentiments last night during the dinner banquet for the 10th World Friends Festival International Cultural and Artistic Exchange Conference at the Likun Hotel.
Here, I would like to deeply bow to all Bruneian friends, friends from the United States and Australia, and friends from my hometown China! I wish to extend my highest respect to everyone!
Thank you to all friends! It is your passionate help and joint efforts that made this cross-mountain and sea fellowship appointment possible.
Here, I also represent the World Friends Festival Organizing Committee to sincerely thank all the institutions, units, and colleagues who strongly supported this event, including the co-organizer Brunei Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Cultural Association, the United Nations NGO Pacific Regional Development and Education Organization, and the Cultural Association currently in preparation!
Since its inception, the World Friends Festival has always adhered to the core philosophy of "Love for everyone, coexistence for all things," using culture as a bridge and making friendship boundless. In nine years of dedication since its opening in Fiji in 2016, it has successively entered Zimbabwe, Malaysia, and Australia—its footprint spanning four continents in four years, rooting civilizational exchange and mutual learning; during the three years of the pandemic, it never stopped, as the 5th to 7th sessions were held in Qufu and Liaoning in China, continuing the pulse of friendship both online and offline; after the pandemic, it embarked on distant journeys again, with the 8th held in Laos, the 9th in Thailand, and now, the 10th arrives in Brunei as scheduled. Ten grand sessions have practiced the theme "Connected by friendship, spread by art", enabling friends worldwide to gather because of culture and stay together because of friendship.
Today, we simultaneously witness the awarding of the 6th "Golden Ivy" International Poetry Prize. As an important component of the World Friends Festival, the award has always upheld its pure original intention, meticulously spreading cosmopolitan poetry. Here, I express my heartfelt respect to my close friend, renowned poet and critic, Brother Li Li. Thank you for your full empowerment, making poetry a cultural bond across boundaries. "Gold" symbolizes sincerity, "Ivy" hopes for everlasting friendship. I sincerely congratulate all award-winning guests, and extend my deepest respect to Mr. Hei Feng, representative of the American awardees, and Ms. Yang Haidi, representative of the Chinese awardees, for attending in person!
Through years of festival practice, I have gained a deeper understanding of friendship; true mutual understanding and companionship cannot exist without three layers of realization: first, professional companionship—gathering strength through consensus, building dreams together, sharing achievements; second, emotional resonance—sincerity exchanged for sincerity, sharing joys, depending on each other warmly; third, spiritual understanding—communicating hearts in tacit understanding, mutual comprehension, and achieving each other. This is precisely the original intention of the World Friends Festival: to build a platform for boundless global exchange, fostering precious connections among business partners, confidantes, and kindred spirits.
This appointment in Brunei has forged deep friendship and also nurtured new opportunities for exchange. At present, plans are underway together with Mr. Li Hui to organize the "First International Wenwu (Culture & Martial Arts) Conference" in Brunei. Rooted in the Chinese cultural tradition of "revering culture and valuing martial arts," it advocates "cultivating martial virtue through culture, nourishing culture through martial arts," promoting innovative integration of culture and martial disciplines. Through features such as the interplay of swordsmanship and calligraphy, the coexistence of combat and dance, traditional culture will gain new vitality, enriching the spiritual life of humanity.
In the future, we will always adhere to our core philosophy, unite various sectors to enrich the content of activities, expand the dimensions of exchange, and strive to build a friendship platform with greater warmth, depth, and international influence. May tonight’s gathering engrave beautiful memories, may each treasured friend harvest sincere friendship, grow and progress through civilizational exchange, and join hands toward a beautiful future!
Finally, I sincerely wish all friends good health, success in all endeavors, family happiness, lasting friendship, and bonds as deep as the sea!
He said, standing here, my heart is filled with emotion and gratitude—there are so many feelings and thanks that I can hardly forget, for the 10th World Friends Festival to be held in Brunei. From my good friend Zhang Tao’s companion Hu Ruiwen, connecting with President Yang Zhensheng who enthusiastically arranged our participation, to meeting the chivalrous Head Coach Li Hui at the event, then, through him, forming a bond with the esteemed Mr. Yu Qing, and ultimately working hand in hand with the witty and wise President Yang Zhensheng—in everyone’s wholehearted support, we managed to realize today’s event in a very short time.
Zhang Jingtao expressed these sentiments last night during the dinner banquet for the 10th World Friends Festival International Cultural and Artistic Exchange Conference at the Likun Hotel.
Here, I would like to deeply bow to all Bruneian friends, friends from the United States and Australia, and friends from my hometown China! I wish to extend my highest respect to everyone!
Thank you to all friends! It is your passionate help and joint efforts that made this cross-mountain and sea fellowship appointment possible.
Here, I also represent the World Friends Festival Organizing Committee to sincerely thank all the institutions, units, and colleagues who strongly supported this event, including the co-organizer Brunei Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Cultural Association, the United Nations NGO Pacific Regional Development and Education Organization, and the Cultural Association currently in preparation!
Since its inception, the World Friends Festival has always adhered to the core philosophy of "Love for everyone, coexistence for all things," using culture as a bridge and making friendship boundless. In nine years of dedication since its opening in Fiji in 2016, it has successively entered Zimbabwe, Malaysia, and Australia—its footprint spanning four continents in four years, rooting civilizational exchange and mutual learning; during the three years of the pandemic, it never stopped, as the 5th to 7th sessions were held in Qufu and Liaoning in China, continuing the pulse of friendship both online and offline; after the pandemic, it embarked on distant journeys again, with the 8th held in Laos, the 9th in Thailand, and now, the 10th arrives in Brunei as scheduled. Ten grand sessions have practiced the theme "Connected by friendship, spread by art", enabling friends worldwide to gather because of culture and stay together because of friendship.
Today, we simultaneously witness the awarding of the 6th "Golden Ivy" International Poetry Prize. As an important component of the World Friends Festival, the award has always upheld its pure original intention, meticulously spreading cosmopolitan poetry. Here, I express my heartfelt respect to my close friend, renowned poet and critic, Brother Li Li. Thank you for your full empowerment, making poetry a cultural bond across boundaries. "Gold" symbolizes sincerity, "Ivy" hopes for everlasting friendship. I sincerely congratulate all award-winning guests, and extend my deepest respect to Mr. Hei Feng, representative of the American awardees, and Ms. Yang Haidi, representative of the Chinese awardees, for attending in person!
Through years of festival practice, I have gained a deeper understanding of friendship; true mutual understanding and companionship cannot exist without three layers of realization: first, professional companionship—gathering strength through consensus, building dreams together, sharing achievements; second, emotional resonance—sincerity exchanged for sincerity, sharing joys, depending on each other warmly; third, spiritual understanding—communicating hearts in tacit understanding, mutual comprehension, and achieving each other. This is precisely the original intention of the World Friends Festival: to build a platform for boundless global exchange, fostering precious connections among business partners, confidantes, and kindred spirits.
This appointment in Brunei has forged deep friendship and also nurtured new opportunities for exchange. At present, plans are underway together with Mr. Li Hui to organize the "First International Wenwu (Culture & Martial Arts) Conference" in Brunei. Rooted in the Chinese cultural tradition of "revering culture and valuing martial arts," it advocates "cultivating martial virtue through culture, nourishing culture through martial arts," promoting innovative integration of culture and martial disciplines. Through features such as the interplay of swordsmanship and calligraphy, the coexistence of combat and dance, traditional culture will gain new vitality, enriching the spiritual life of humanity.
In the future, we will always adhere to our core philosophy, unite various sectors to enrich the content of activities, expand the dimensions of exchange, and strive to build a friendship platform with greater warmth, depth, and international influence. May tonight’s gathering engrave beautiful memories, may each treasured friend harvest sincere friendship, grow and progress through civilizational exchange, and join hands toward a beautiful future!
Finally, I sincerely wish all friends good health, success in all endeavors, family happiness, lasting friendship, and bonds as deep as the sea!