By Jin Lu

On May 23, the first edition of "Ningbo in Photographs: An Exhibition Series in Global Companies" opened in Phnom Penn, Cambodia. This event marked a significant cross-border dialogue and a cultural exchange that breaks barriers. Ningbo's iconic "Smile of the East" and Cambodia's renowned "Smile of the Khmer," two globally celebrated cultural symbols, converged at the exhibition, held on the premises of Ningbo companies’ overseas factories in Cambodia. This unique opportunity provided local workers with a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

This exhibition marks the beginning of a year-long endeavor: Ningbo, a pivotal city in global trade, plans to organize 100 photography exhibitions at 100 overseas factories, building more bridges of cultural exchange and friendship.

A Meeting of Two Smiles

In Cambodia, it is common to see people greeting each other with a Buddhist gesture, palms pressed together. The streets are filled with kind, friendly, and sincere smiles. These smiles possess an infectious power.

The "Smile of the Khmer" refers to the serene and peaceful smile of the four-faced Buddha statue at Bayon Temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. The Buddha's faces, with their slight smile and typical Khmer features, exude a mysterious charm that sparks the imagination. These smiles symbolize the Cambodian spirit of facing life with optimism, regardless of hardships.

The smile of the Maitreya Buddha at Xuedou Temple in Fenghua, Ningbo, was featured alongside its Cambodian counterpart in the photo exhibition. The image of the Maitreya Buddha, with a big belly believed to be capable of "digesting" all worldly troubles and a smile directed at the world, is known as the "Smile of the East". It embodies the spirit of tolerance and kindness of the Chinese nation.

Different smiles, but the same spirit. The meeting of these two cultural symbols overcame the barriers of language and time.

"I felt an instant connection. Seeing such a classic smile from distant Ningbo here was unexpected. It looks so open-hearted and comforting; I love it," said Chunshu Arlin, a visitor at the exhibition, echoing the feelings of many. Such is the "heart-to-heart connection" fostered by cultural exchange.

Culture has the power to transcend time, space, and national borders. The Maitreya Buddha is recognized globally, creating a bridge of cultural exchange that is inspired by history and touches hearts worldwide. Understanding the "Smile of the East" also brings a deeper appreciation for the "Smile of the Khmer".

Connecting Hearts

Each photo in the exhibition, with its poignant visual message and bilingual text description, often telling a human story, provides an opportunity for emotional connection. The images reflect the fascinating stories of Ningbo, Zhejiang, and China, giving overseas workers a closer look at Chinese traditional culture and modern society, and evoking empathetic responses.

Photos of Sanjiangkou in Ningbo narrate the history of Chinese tea going global. Reading the detailed explanations accompanying the images, viewers can easily visualize tea-laden ships departing for Cambodia and beyond.

The exhibition also highlighted Ningbo's vitality and fast development. Photos showed high-speed trains racing through the city center and rapidly growing skyscrapers. Spectacular images of the China-Cambodia National Agricultural Industrial Park, the first standardized modern agricultural industrial park in Cambodia, left many viewers astonished.

Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. Each photo delivers a powerful message, offering employees at Ningbo's overseas factories a rich experience of cross-cultural exchange.

"These photos fill me with yearning for Ningbo. I look forward to more cultural exchange activities," said Lassi, an employee of Ningbo Seduno in Cambodia, expressing a desire to visit Ningbo soon.

Sharing Progress

At the exhibition, visitors eagerly snapped photos and shared their experience on social media. The exhibition revealed Ningbo's dynamic growth, highlighted China-Cambodia collaboration, and celebrated the advancement of both countries.

Some saw opportunities in Ningbo's booming vitality, some saw the success of China-Cambodia cooperation, and some cheered for the prosperity of their hometown.

In today's interconnected world, the voices of ordinary people can amplify a nation's global messages significantly. The photos effectively showcased Ningbo's progress, while presenting a compelling image of a beautiful and advanced China.

Cambodia is currently experiencing rapid development, with Sino-Cambodian trade ties growing increasingly close. As a result, more Cambodians are gaining an understanding of China, with the speed of China's development drawing the attention of many.

The meticulously curated exhibition highlights the most remarkable aspects of Ningbo's progress, portraying an appealing and successful image of China.

With globalization advancing, more Ningbo enterprises are exploring international markets. In Phnom Penh alone, there are dozens of Ningbo enterprises, employing over 100,000 workers. Leading companies like Shenzhou and Seduno have established significant operations with thousands of local workers, creating robust economies of scale.

The photography exhibition enabled employees to appreciate the unique charms and commonalities of both cultures, enhancing mutual understanding and significantly strengthening their corporate culture of unity.