On the morning of May 22, the 8th International Culture Festival of NCUT was held in Yuxiu Square. Hosted by the International School and co-hosted by the Youth League Committee of NCUT and Brunel London School, the event had the theme of "Exchange and Mutual Learning, Inheritance and Innovation." It attracted nearly a thousand teachers and students from over 40 countries and regions.
Bobirjon Yakhyaev, Counsellor and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China; Calvin Tshidavhu, Education Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in China; Orazgeldiyev Shohrat, First Secretary of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in China; and Shongo Ya Shongo Trésor, First Secretary of the Democratic Republic of Congo, attended the event. Before the opening ceremony of the cultural festival, Zhang Lifeng, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of the university, warmly received the visiting guests. He introduced the internationalization of education and the teaching of international students, emphasizing that the university is committed to promoting the internationalization of education to cultivate more outstanding international talents who know China and have a friendship with China. He stressed the importance of strengthening mutual learning between Chinese and foreign students and promoting the integration and sharing of cultures from various countries.
The event received extensive support and a positive response from various sectors of society, including embassies in China from multiple countries, the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shijingshan District, and sister universities. Guests from all sides gathered at Yuxiu Square with students from NCUT to share an international cultural feast.
At 11:30, the 8th International Cultural Festival kicked off with the Chinese classical dance "Drunken Spring Breeze". Zhang Lifeng delivered an opening speech, expressing his gratitude to all the guests for their strong support of this international cultural festival. He pointed out that each country has its own unique culture and that the school has always been committed to creating an open and inclusive campus atmosphere for both Chinese and foreign teachers and students. The school aims to build a platform for mutual learning and exchange, deepen everyone's understanding of different cultures, and promote the integration and sharing of civilizations. This is the significance of holding the International Cultural Festival today. Combining the theme of "inheritance and innovation," Zhang Lifeng encouraged international students from all over the world to innovate while inheriting their own excellent cultures. The president also humorously referred to the teachers and students of the school as "lovely people" and proposed that they call themselves North Cuter in Beijing in the future.
Chinese and foreign guests cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony of the International Cultural Festival.
Wang Jianwen, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and vice president, presided over the opening ceremony.
In the opening ceremony, Chinese and foreign students performed folk dances, traditional songs, and modern dances, and played traditional Chinese musical instruments. Zhang Lifeng, along with Chinese and foreign guests, watched the performances with great interest. They also engaged in in-depth exchanges at the booths of international students from all over the world to understand the organization of the cultural festival and to experience the cultural customs of various countries.
Dressed in traditional costumes of their own country, the international students enthusiastically demonstrated their country's characteristic culture to Chinese teachers and students. They used carefully prepared traditional culture posters, handicrafts, photos, postcards, handmade pendants, interactive experience games, and provided free handmade traditional food. For the first time, the Chinese traditional culture booth included elements such as calligraphy experiences, intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, and Hanfu experiences, which were novel and exciting for international students. Holding an exclusive passport for the Cultural Festival of the University, participants interacted with international students at various country booths to collect stamps. This added a lot of fun to the international cultural festival.
Founded in 2013 and successfully held for seven sessions, the NCUT International Cultural Festival has become an important platform for cultural exchanges and learning between teachers and students from all over the world. It is also one of the "four major festivals" of the university. The 8th International Cultural Festival includes four exhibition areas: the exhibition of the school's international school running achievements, the exhibition of outstanding works by international students, the exhibition of cultural customs of various countries, and the art performances by Chinese and foreign students. A total of 29 countries are participating in their own exhibitions.
