Between 23 and 30 June, Gozitan teenager Thiago Jo Said, who earned the title of Junior Cultural ambassador 2023, joined 22 other winners from 20 different countries in Beijing. Besides taking part in various cultural activities, he attended the 2023 Award Ceremony of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's Junior Cultural Ambassadors event.

Responding to a call from the China Cultural Centre in Malta for talented teenagers to compete for the Junior Cultural Ambassador title, Said was selected as the winner. He presented a short video of himself playing the piano. The competition's theme was My dream cities in China and Said also spoke about his favourite Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

The action-packed programme offered a unique experience for all the Junior Cultural ambassadors. Among the various activities, they visited the Forbidden City, the Juyongguan Great Wall, the Prince Kung Palace Museum and the bustling commercial streets of Qianmen and Dashilan. They also explored the National Stadium, commonly known as the Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube or National Aquatics Centre. Additionally, the group had the chance to ride the high-speed train to Tianjin, renowned for its woven handicrafts, terracotta figurines, hand-painted woodblock prints and extensive seafood cuisine.

All the participants had the opportunity to try their hand at tie-dyeing, a technique that involves blending colours onto white fabric. Moreover, they were shown how to make dumplings, which are thin layers of dough filled with savoury or sweet ingredients. They also engaged in woodblock printing.

"This was an unforgettable experience. I had never visited China before and was enchanted by the friendly Chinese people, the beautiful culture, the exquisite architecture and the stunning natural scenery. It was also a wonderful moment to make new friends from around the world and to connect with other teenagers who shared my interests," said.

His mother, Cynthia Saliba, who accompanied him on this trip to China, described it as highly valuable for her son, who has a strong interest in China and is currently studying the Chinese language at the China Cultural Centre in Malta. It was also her first time in China, and she was delighted to discover the country's beauty, its welcoming people and the overall sense of safety.