On September 21, the 17th USTB International Culture Festival opened at Wuhuan Square. Vice President Jiao Shuqiang attended the event and delivered remarks. Under the theme “Starry Dreams, Five Continents in Splendor,” this year’s festival featured 47 cultural booths and brought together more than 400 Chinese and international faculty and students, painting a moving picture of enduring friendship among young people from China and around the world and of mutual learning among civilizations.

Jiao Shuqiang Delivers Remarks

At the opening ceremony, Jiao Shuqiang pointed out that this year marks the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s important reply to all Pakistani international students at USTB. In the reply, President Xi encouraged them to engage more with Chinese youth and work together with young people from all over the world to contribute to people-to-people bonds and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Jiao Shuqiang remarked that friendships between countries stem from amity among peoples, and amity among peoples comes from heartfelt connections. He called on Chinese and international students to fully express themselves, share warm bonds forged at USTB, and bring greater cultural charm and youthful vitality to the university.

The 17th International Culture Festival Opens in Grand Style

At the opening procession, international student representatives from various countries and regions stepped onto the stage in traditional attire, waving their national flags. Full of youthful energy and high spirits, they showcased the inclusive and diverse cultures of their respective countries.

Highlights of the Opening Ceremony

During the cultural performance segment, students from Mongolia, the DPRK, Cambodia, Turkmenistan, and other countries took to the stage one after another, presenting artistic performances rich in cultural heritage and distinctive charm. The program featured both instrumental ensembles by Chinese and international students and enthusiastic choral performances, drawing rounds of cheers and setting the whole venue alight.

Cultural Booth Exchange

During the exhibition session, Jiao Shuqiang visited booths of different countries and chatted warmly with Chinese and international students. Mengxia, an international student from Italy, prepared authentic Italian pasta on site and shared differences between Chinese and Italian food cultures with visitors. Yang Lingling from Ukraine showcased her country’s embroidery culture and introduced its history. Ronan, an international student from Indonesia affiliated with Qingshan Group, expressed his delight in studying at USTB and excitement about the International Culture Festival. He hopes to display the friendship between the peoples of Indonesia and China, and bring advanced knowledge gained at USTB back home to contribute to Indonesia’s metallurgical industry.

As a signature programme of USTB’s international student education, the International Culture Festival highlights the vitality of our international students and offers a broad platform for exchanges among diverse civilizations. With continuous innovation in forms, richer connotations and growing influence over the years, it has become an influential benchmark event for international student education across Beijing. This culture festival also forms part of the series of activities marking the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s important reply to all Pakistani international students at USTB. Moving forward, the university will continue to act on the spirit of this important reply, contributing USTB’s wisdom and strength to advancing people-to-people bonds and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

（Photo: International Student Center）