Beijing Women's Federation

Beijing Women's Federation (BWF) and the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People's Government jointly held a gathering in Beijing Science Center with the participation of Chinese and international families living and working in the capital city on May 12 to further implement important discourses by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping on family ties, values and traditions, follow the proposals by the United Nations on promoting the harmony, happiness and development of families worldwide, and celebrate this year’s International Day of Families (May 15). Themed "Science Carnival for Families," the gathering consisted of various activities such as scientific experiment experience, cultural exchange and handicraft making of intangible cultural heritage. It drew the attendance of nearly 300 people from over 10 countries, which include Algeria, Cuba, Indonesia and Iran.

 

Sharing a Journey of Science and Technology

The world becomes colorful because of science and technology. Sci-tech innovation has become an important engine for and exerted profound influence upon mankind's development. In this year's celebration of the International Day of Families, attending families paid a visit to Beijing Science Center, an iconic architecture of sci-tech innovation in the capital city, where they conducted an exploratory tour of the origins of life, examined the relations between mankind and technology and considered the importance of harmonious co-existence between humanity and nature from the perspectives of life, living and survival.

Attendees watched a movie titled Hidden Universe in a dome theatre of Beijing Science Center, which helped them feel the profoundness of the universe and the pioneering spirit of mankind in the exploration of the unknown world. Under the guidance of science teachers there, participants made scientific works by themselves, explored the mysteries of science and technology, and further strengthened the bond among them. A group of students from Huairou Beifang Middle School, which is a pilot school of BWF's Science and Technology Empower Girls Beijing Action project, presented a dancing show and conducted interactions with AI-driven robots to closely appreciate positive changes brought by science and technology to human life.

 

Holding Dialogues over the Building of Happy Families

The event was also attended by the diplomats and experts of nearly 20 foreign countries and their families in Beijing as well as honorees of the Capital's Most Beautiful Families, and families of the March 8th Red-Banner Holders, the Most Beautiful Women Strivers, the Most Beautiful Volunteers and the Most Beautiful Executive Committee Members of Women's Federations. They talked with each other about their feeling of attending the activity.

Fang Qiuzi, a National March 8th Red-Banner Holder, said that it was the first time for her to attend such an international event with family members. After the exchanges with foreign families, she found that it is the common aspiration for people worldwide to build beautiful families, and the event helps deepen their bond. Wang Dahu, an honoree of the National Most Beautiful Families, comes from a revolutionary family. He said that the event has allowed him to closely appreciate the achievements made by Beijing in the building of an international city and that he is proud to attend the activity. Sun Yan, a recipient of the Most Beautiful Executive Committee Members of Women's Federations, said that women's federations have played an important role in bridging the family culture of different countries and enhancing the bond among people across the world.

A family from Greece said that sci-tech development has positively changed human life and that people from different countries should strengthen their cooperation over innovation and work together to improve the wellbeing of mankind. A family from Algeria said that the families of all countries are counted in global response to common challenges and that their fates are closely bonded.

 

Looking Forward to Better Future and More Beautiful City

There were thematic exhibition booths at the celebration sites to showcase memorable moments of Chinese and international families on the special occasion, review the themes of previous activities of the International Day of Families, and demonstrate the endless pursuit of people worldwide toward happy and harmonious families. With a theme of helping children realize their dreams and building Beijing into a child-friendly city, the special exhibition area gave an introduction to the guiding principles of the city and its achievements in the building of a child-friendly city, arranged an interactive venue to make the voice of children worldwide heard, and invited children to write their anticipation of Beijing toward the building of a child-friendly city. For instance, a 12-year-old Iranian child hoped that there would be a children's theater close to her home. A three-year-old Chinese kid wanted to have more slides available. An eight-year-old Algerian boy expressed his hope that a city will be like a big garden. Their wishes will be rendered to Beijing Municipal Working Committee on Children and Women and be taken into account into the capital city's urban construction and planning.

As a brand event of Beijing's people-to-people diplomacy, the celebration of the International Day of Families with the participation of Chinese and international families has been held for 14 consecutive years, attracting nearly 10,000 participants from over 60 countries. It has further deepened the bond among attending families from home and abroad and helped them forge solid friendship in their face-to-face interactions. This year's event was jointly undertaken by Beijing Women's International Center (BWIC) and Beijing Science Center under the support of Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Xicheng Women's Federation, and Huairou Beifang Middle School.