At a local cultural event, Chen Xiyao (R) poses for a picture with Latvian Dana (L) and Yamada (M),magistrate of Kyoto county.
Chen Xiyao, a student from Luoyang recently received a pleasant surprise to be named the Kyoto honorary goodwill ambassador."My hometown has close historical relations with Kyoto and this is important for my appointment," said Chen.
When Chen first arrived in Kyoto in 2009, he found that the city was not as dissimilar from China as he'd expected it to be. He learned that Kyoto was first built in 794 AD and it took Luoyang,Changan and other Tang Dynasty metropolises as its models.
As the honorary Goodwill Ambassador, Chen has attended more than 20 international cultural exchange events so far. He wishes to find a job related to cultural exchange after he graduates. He hopes his work can serve as a bridge between the two cities.