"The culture festival was an amazing experience and it was amazing to witness the convergence of diverse cultures. It will forever remain an unforgettable experience for me," Luisa Knappheide, a BLCU student from Germany, said.

Anastasiia Kaliakina, a 22-year-old junior student from Russia who is studying standard Chinese at the institution for one year, shared her excitement. "We decided to make Russia's national dish, blini or thin pancakes, and stayed up until 3 a.m., preparing it in the kitchen before the festival. We also brought along the traditional Russian women's headdress, the kokoshnik. Many students approached us for pictures and when they discovered we were from Russia, their friendly smiles andoccasional privet ("hello") warmed our hearts." 

The festival facilitated the expansion of horizons, the forging of deep friendship and the development of cross-cultural communication skills and global perspectives among students. Additionally, this year's BLCU Culture Festival featured a special Chinese culture section, where attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in traditional Chinese arts, including tea ceremonies, flower arranging, guqin (a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument) performances, calligraphy, painting and full-fledged displays of hanfu, the traditional dress of the Han Chinese.

Alongside the international youth cultural festivals, universities in Beijing have carried out a range of initiatives to facilitate international student exchange. UIBE, for instance, organized the Chinese Culture Lecture and the Knowing China series, which provided international students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture and society.

In her opening speech at UIBE's International Youth Cultural Festival, Maria Gustava, Mozambique's Ambassador to China, emphasized that by immersing young people in different cultures, they can "learn from one another, exchange ideas, appreciate differences and embrace diversity." These experiences, she stated, lay the foundations for a more peaceful and harmonious world.

Live and learn 

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012, China has demonstrated its continued commitment to further opening up to the world, resulting in the development of education with enhanced international cooperation and exchange. Now, China is the largest source country of international students globally and the largest destination country in Asia.

The influx of international students of higher quality and academic standing reflects the advancement of Chinese higher education. In 2018 alone, 492,000 foreign students from 196 countries and regions studied at 1,004 Chinese higher education institutions across 31 provincial-level regions. This included 258,000 students pursuing academic degrees, accounting for 52.44 percent of the total number of foreign students in China.

Taking UIBE as an example, the peak number of international students studying at the institution was 3,457, reached in 2019, representing 176 countries and regions worldwide. Following the pandemic, the scale of international students studying in UIBE decreased to 2,366 this year, involving 155 countries and regions, including the Republic of Korea, Russia, Pakistan, the United States, Canada and Germany.

An overseas student at UIBE's International Youth Cultural Festival on May 11 (WEI JIAQI) 

Education has played an important role in promoting civilizational exchanges and facilitating mutual understanding between China and other countries. To promote such exchanges, the Central Government has set up the Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) programs, which include the Bilateral Program, Silk Road Scholarship Program, China-Africa Friendship Scholarship Program and the Sino-U.S. Cultural Exchange Degree-Study Scholarship, to name a few. Local governments also offer scholarships such as the Beijing Municipal Government Scholarship and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. 

Liu Jinlan, Dean of UIBE's School of International Education, told Beijing Review that its international students are mainly sponsored by the central and local governments of China.

Kaliakina, who received the CGS, gratefully acknowledged the comprehensive support. "The Chinese Government provided me with a scholarship that covered tuition, accommodation and living expenses." She comes from the Chinese Language Extension School of St. Petersburg University in Russia and has been studying at BLCU since last September, and will return to her alma mater in Russia after the academic year ends.

According to the China Scholarship Council, which is entrusted by the Ministry of Education to administer the CGS, the CGS's funding standards are designed to ensure that international students can fully concentrate on their academic pursuits and live comfortably throughout their academic stay in China.

The intensifying exchange and cooperation between China and many countries in areas such as trade, science and technology necessitate the cultivation of individuals capable of engaging with China from a global perspective.

To meet this demand, China has broadened its academic offerings to include Western medicine, engineering and management programs for international students. The diversification and higher standards of disciplines and scientific research in China have increased the country's appeal to international students.

Wu Shijia, a Chinese-American graduate student majoring in international relations at UIBE, stated that the alumni he knows personally are all working in transnational companies, embassies or government departments today. Their academic experiences in China have greatly helped them on their professional paths.

During a group study session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on building a leading country in education on May 29, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to promote the Study in China brand, share China's experience and enable China's education to become more influential in the world.

Ke Jia, a UIBE senior student majoring in business administration from Ghana, spoke about her five-year academic experience with Beijing Review. "Not only did I learn a lot in terms of my chosen major, but I also participated in many social events and learned a lot about Chinese culture. Everyone in China is working hard and living with a sense of purpose. The economy is developing rapidly, providing people's lives with abundant material resources and convenience," she said.

As the world continues to recover from the pandemic, events and initiatives forging deeper connections play a crucial role in reigniting international exchanges and reconnecting nations. By embracing cultural diversity and providing platforms for intercultural dialogue, China and its universities are paving the way for a more inclusive, interconnected and harmonious future.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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