On September 28, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia held a Mid-Autumn movie reception in Mogadishu. H.E. Fei Shengchao, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia and Hon. Nura Mustafe, Somali State Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, attended and addressed the event and joined together with more than one hundred teenage students, members of parliament and government officials, watching the Chinese science fiction movie The Wandering Earth II.
Ambassador Fei, when delivering remarks, recalled the successful Somali chapter of "Tiangong Dialogue" held by the Chinese Embassy last year, during which more than 100 Somali boys and girls were invited to watch The Wandering Earth I. He also mentioned that recently, the painting of a dove for peace drawn by a six-year-old Somali boy, Kawkib Mahamud, won the first prize in the “My Dream” Painting Competition for African Youth held by the Chinese side. The boy’s painting was launched into space and exhibited in China's space station. Ambassador Fei underlined that following these exciting moments, the movie show of The Wandering Earth II would certainly add another new page in the history of friendship between our two nations.
Ambassador Fei, while narrating the plot of The Wandering Earth II, pointed out that the movie tells a story of building a community with a shared future for humankind. He underlined that the movie tells how nations across the world, in face of a life or death challenge for humans, put aside differences, rise to the occasion together, turn the tide and make a world of difference. Ambassador Fei further said that today's real world is faced with multiple real crises, and human beings are faced with multiple real challenges in the course of development, so we have no better option than joining hands to brave the storm together.
Ambassador Fei said that in this sense, The Wandering Earth II is not only a science fiction movie, but also a reflection on how humanity can respond to common crises and build a better future. He said that this year marks the tenth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of building a community with a shared future for humankind. Facing global challenges, China will achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization, and work with Somalia and other nations in the world, contributing to such a community with a shared future for humankind, so that everyone will be better off tomorrow.
State Minister Nura Mustafe congratulated the Chinese people on the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival and sincerely appreciated the Chinese Embassy for organizing the movie show, particularly commending the customized Somali language subtitles of the movie added by the embassy. State Minister Nura said that Somalia and China cooperate closely in the area of education. This movie show is a good example. She also said that China has made great development achievements, especially in the aerospace field, and The Wandering Earth II will certainly inspire the courage and determination of Somali students to explore the unknown and pursue self-dependence, so as to help them get well prepared to contribute to peace and stability in Somalia.
Before the movie showcase started, the guests ate halal mooncakes to have a taste of the traditional culture of Mid-Autumn Festival of China. During the movie reception, the audience burst into warm applauses now and then, and very much appreciated the movie.
Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), Somali National News Agency (SONNA), Somali National TV (SNTV) , Universal TV and other media from China and Somalia were present to cover the movie reception.