The 2023 Chinese Bridge "China's Science and Technology" Online Winter Camp opened on Feb 21.

Undertaken by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and co-organized by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, the camp attracted 286 trainees from Arabic-speaking countries.

The event was held to guide students to experience the charm of China's science and technology from multiple perspectives through diverse online Chinese classes.

The 2023 "China's Science and Technology" Online Winter Camp opens on Feb 21. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Jin Limin, director of the Office of Confucius Institutes at BFSU, introduced the characteristics of the winter camp in her opening speech.

BFSU has been committed to helping China and the world better understand each other, connecting world culture by teaching 101 foreign languages and to telling Chinese stories on the global stage, Jin said.

Jin added that she hopes trainees will learn more about China's science and technology and high-tech enterprises, put into practice the knowledge they have learned and advance the China-Arab friendship with practical actions.

Lujeyn Muhammed Salem Alayed, a trainee from Jordan, said that she cherishes this opportunity to learn Chinese.

Alayed regards learning Chinese as a window to explore a new world. It is more about understanding the rich Chinese culture than achieving high scores in the exams, she said.

Deena Alfaris, a learner from Saudi Arabia, said she is very interested in Chinese culture and hopes to learn more about China's science, technology and culture through the camp.

Speaking of her experience in China, Alfaris said she participated in activities to celebrate Chinese New Year, wore Chinese-style hanfu clothing and learned Chinese classical dance.

Trainees of the "China's Science and Technology" Online Winter Camp. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

China and Arab countries have a long history of friendly exchanges, and their cooperation in Chinese education has deepened in recent years.

As of October 2022, four Arab countries, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Tunisia, have incorporated Chinese language into their national education systems. Fifteen Arab countries have opened Chinese colleges and departments in higher education institutions, and 13 Arab countries have established 20 Confucius Institutes and two independent Confucius Classrooms. Among them, the Confucius Institute, jointly built by BFSU and Zayed University and inaugurated in 2012, is the first and the largest Confucius Institute in the United Arab Emirates.

In recent years, BFSU has given full play to its advantages in foreign languages and international education characteristics, boosted cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries, facilitated communication, amplified China's voice and promoted the mutual learning of Chinese and Arab civilizations with practical actions.