During the recent visit by President Xi Jinping to President Trump people-to-people diplomacy, i.e. interactions between people from different countries that help build mutual understanding, played an imported part. Thus, President Xi proposed providing opportunities for 100,000 American students to study in China. The expectation is that China-US relations will benefit from the opportunity offered to the US students to familiarise themselves with Chinese culture.
In the same spirit Vassilis Xiros, a Greek diplomat who served as Consul General in Shanghai, produced the film, ‘A Day in the Life of a Teddy Bear’. In the film, a Greek man named Panos and a Chinese woman named Jinxi meet up in Shanghai and engage in cultural discourse. After their meeting Jinxi departs for Europe to pursue further education there.
Ambassador Xiros regards his film as a ‘love letter’, to express his appreciation for the time he spent in China. During the production of the film, he discovered the cultural differences that exist between himself and his Chinese colleagues. While his Chinese colleagues were focused on visual appeal, Ambassador Xiros believed that the story was what mattered most. Consequently, they decided to produce a harmonious film based on input from both sides. In an effort to make the audience laugh during the film, it also includes a mix of Greek, Chinese, and English humour.
Both through his diplomatic work and his filmmaking, Ambassador Xiros continues to support harmonious relations between the two countries. Overall, Ambassador Xiros’s work demonstrates how cultural exchange between Greece and China can create meaningful connections between people. The filmmaking process shows how people from different cultures can combine their ideas and perspectives to create something new. As the relationships between China and Greece continues to grow, cultural projects like that of Ambassador Xiros can help strengthen the connection between the two countries.
Bronnen:
Vassilis Xiros: Shaping cross-cultural encounters on and off screen – People’s Daily Online
Xi comes bearing gifts: 2 giant pandas and 100,000 student visas – The Hill
Trump welcomes Xi to White House for state dinner – abc News