ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish teen from the town of Ranya in Sulaimani province has been chosen to represent Iraq in a cultural exchange program with China.
"The Junior Cultural Ambassadors Event is launched by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, targeting young people at home and abroad... It aims to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and other countries," according to the event.
During a weeklong program held in China late last month, Barin Adeeb, 15, was chosen as Iraq's junior ambassador.
Barin is a grade 11 student. She started learning the Chinese language when she was 10 years old, teaching herself at first and then later with a private tutor.
"I have managed to take part in many Chinese language festivals and most recently I took part in the junior cultural ambassadors event. They were very amazed by us, but unfortunately, very few of them knew Kurds. But I did my best to introduce Kurds to them," Barin told Rudaw on Friday.
Her parents supported her interest in the Chinese language.
"When I knew she was interested and had all the potential... I [supported] her and I never knew she would quickly adapt and learn this language. Within a short period, I noticed that she had learned it, so I helped and downloaded two or three apps for her," said her father, Adeeb Mamand.
Barin's visit to China and participation in the cultural exchange program were sponsored and arranged by the Chinese consulate in Erbil.
At this year's exchange, 361 people from across the world took part and 30 were selected as junior ambassadors.
China has growing cultural and trade relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The country's foreign ministry has previously told Rudaw that Beijing is committed to its "friendly" relations with Iraq and "actively participates" in the reconstruction of the country.
Beijing opened its consulate in Erbil in 2014 and has become one of Iraq's largest trade partners. Trade between China and Iraq reached around $50 billion last year. Beijing is also the biggest importer of Iraqi oil.
Abubakir Ismail contributed to this report
