The opening ceremony of the first “Chinese Bridge” Online Winter Camp for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States was held at the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) on Feb 15.

The opening ceremony of the first “Chinese Bridge” Online Winter Camp for the GCC Member States is held at the CLEC on Feb 15. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Hu Zhiping, deputy director of the CLEC, and Amna Alhammadi, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to China, addressed the ceremony.

The event drew more than 200 representatives of Chinese university organizers and students from the GCC member states online and offline.

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and vice-president of the university, was present at the event as a representative of organizing universities.

The “Hello Chinese” Online Winter Camp opens on Feb 15. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The 2023 “Hello Chinese” Online Winter Camp opened on the same day. Undertaken by BFSU and co-organized by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, it attracted 158 trainees from the GCC member states.

As one of the programs of the first “Chinese Bridge” online winter camps open to GCC member states, the “Hello Chinese” camp helped students experience the charm of Chinese language and culture from multiple perspectives by providing online Chinese classes.

Liu Xinlu, dean of the School of Arabic Studies at BFSU, talked about the characteristics of the winter camp at the opening ceremony.

BFSU has always been committed to connecting world culture with languages and bolstering China-Arab friendship with actions, Liu said, adding that he hopes trainees will have more insight into China and deepen Sino-Arab ties.

Liu introduced the achievements made by the university in building the Arabic language discipline and the cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries, as well as the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Center for Arabic Language and Islamic Studies, the largest Arabic language teaching base in China.

Sarah Alyammahi, a student representative from the United Arab Emirates, expressed her expectations for the Chinese language and culture program.

"I like Chinese very much. Chinese is a beautiful language and a language of the future. Chinese characters intrigue me. I am eager to learn the meaning and stories implied by every word, " Alyammahi said.

Budur Abdurahman Ashehri, a learner from Saudi Arabia who has studied Chinese for two years, said she hopes to become a Chinese teacher in the future and will work to promote the friendship between China and Saudi Arabia.

Ali Hadi Yahya Hakami, another trainee of the program, said he is very interested in Chinese culture and hopes to learn more through this winter camp.

Trainees of the “Hello Chinese” Online Winter Camp give speeches. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The "Hello Chinese" Online Winter Camp lasts for eight days. With thematic courses based on culture, language and experience, it has guided students to study the Chinese language, appreciate the art of calligraphy, learn about the Belt and Road Initiative, experience the cultural differences between China and Arab countries, and listen to stories told by student volunteers who served at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.