News
From Qiantang to the Silk Road— CECCI's International Exchange Practice Behind Silk Road Youth: Uzbekistan, Episode
图片及内容版权归CECCI所有，如发现侵权或盗用行为将追究法律责任
All images and content are the property of CECCI. Any unauthorised use or infringement will result in legal action.
9th October 2026
The second episode, A Dream Far From Home, of Silk Road Youth: Uzbekistan, Episode, the first documentary featuring Generation Z friendship between China and Uzbekistan, was recently released by Dolphin Books, China International Communications Group. It is also being broadcast simultaneously on domestic platforms including Bilibili and Tencent News.
The China-Europe Centre for Cultural Innovation (CECCI), which supported and partnered with the production, provided relevant materials and filming assistance for the documentary. During the filming process, CECCI first met one of the documentary's protagonists, Uzbek young man Akhmadjonov Azimjon, through activities linked to the “Qiantang Cup Chinese Proficiency Competition for Global Youth”, and subsequently took part in the filming.
From a chance meeting in Qiantang to a story about a young person crossing borders reaching a wider audience, the experience represents a practical exploration by CECCI of how to draw on local resources, connect with young people from around the world and develop new approaches to international exchange.
A Meeting in Qiantang That Took the Story Further
Akhmadjonov Azimjon's story with China began in Qiantang.
As a postgraduate student at Hangzhou Dianzi University, Akhmadjonov Azimjon entered the “Qiantang Cup Chinese Proficiency Competition for Global Youth”. After competing against more than 200 participants in the preliminary round, he advanced to the training camp and semi-finals, eventually taking to the stage for the grand final.
Through the “Qiantang Cup”, Akhmadjonov Azimjon not only gained personal experience and growth, but also met friends from different countries and regions. Moments from his experience during the competition were captured on camera, becoming valuable footage. Some of these scenes were later incorporated into the documentary, forming an important part of the story of Akhmadjonov Azimjon and his connection with China.
From travelling from Uzbekistan to China to pursue his studies, to gradually becoming part of life and learning in Hangzhou and exploring the path of entrepreneurship, Akhmadjonov Azimjon's experience reflects the growing connections being built between international young people and Chinese cities.
For CECCI, this was more than simply filming an individual. It was an exploration of how local stories can be developed into content for international exchange, drawing on international youth exchange and the cultural life of the city.
From Youth Exchange to Wider Collaboration
The filming and release of the documentary also represent another step in the continued collaboration between CECCI and partners including CIPG Dolphin Books.
In June this year, CIPG Dolphin Books and CECCI jointly established the “International Communication and AI Integration Innovation Base”. Drawing on their respective resources and expertise, the two sides will deepen cooperation in areas including innovation in content for international exchange, the application of artificial intelligence, international talent development and cultural projects reaching overseas audiences, while exploring new models and approaches for using AI to support international exchange.
With international youth exchange as a link, local resources as a foundation and international exchange as a bridge, CECCI continues to facilitate collaboration between institutions, cities and young people from around the world. Through the relevant base and its youth exchange resources, more authentic stories taking place in Hangzhou and Qiantang can be documented, giving more international young people the opportunity to experience, participate in and tell stories about China.
For international exchange, the significance of a filming project goes beyond the production of a single piece of video content. More importantly, sustained connections and collaborative projects can help create a positive cycle linking exchange, content production and wider dissemination.
Local Stories as a Window to the World
Silk Road Youth: Uzbekistan, Episode is more than a record of one young person's journey across borders. It also portrays the genuine connections formed among young people from different countries through study, everyday life and exchange.
As an organisation with a long-standing commitment to international cultural exchange, CECCI continues to bring together international cultural resources, promote youth exchange and arts cooperation, and explore new practices in international exchange. Through these efforts, authentic stories from China and from everyday life in its cities can reach international audiences in more diverse ways, while people and cultures from around the world can also find a place in China.
From a chance encounter to a story on screen; from Qiantang to the Silk Road.
The story of a young person and a city is becoming a window connecting different cultures, countries and generations. Looking ahead, CECCI will continue to draw on its international cultural exchange networks and innovative cooperation platforms, starting from local communities to discover more authentic and diverse stories of international exchange. It will continue to explore new ways of presenting stories from China to international audiences, using cultural exchange and international exchange as bridges for mutual understanding and lasting connections between China and the wider world.
图片及内容版权归CECCI所有，如发现侵权或盗用行为将追究法律责任
All images and content are the property of CECCI. Any unauthorised use or infringement will result in legal action.