The 2023 summer camp (Beijing session) of Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II di Roma was inaugurated at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on May 31. 

The opening ceremony, sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), was hosted by BFSU and undertaken by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

Yang Jun, deputy director of the CLEC, speaks at the opening ceremony of the summer camp. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Jun, deputy director of the CLEC, welcomed teachers and students from the school and encouraged students to gain more knowledge about the Chinese language, understand China and build tighter bonds during the two-week activity.

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, speaks at the opening ceremony of the summer camp. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

In his address at the ceremony, Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, highlighted the long-standing friendly exchanges between China and Italy and affirmed trainees of the summer camp as new forces for the inheritance and development of the two countries' civilizations.

He encouraged students to learn Chinese well and experience the Chinese path to modernization during their studies in China, and said he hopes they will make more friends and tap more potential.

Mario Izzi, an official from the Italian embassy in China, speaks at the opening ceremony of the summer camp. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Mario Izzi, an official from the Italian embassy in China, underlined the importance of foreign language learning, praised students for their courage in learning Chinese, and wished them an unforgettable experience in China and success in their studies.

Francesco Alario, director of Chinese programs at Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II di Roma, speaks at the opening ceremony of the summer camp. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Francesco Alario, director of Chinese programs at Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II di Roma, said visiting China enables Italian students to immerse themselves in the cultural atmosphere and helps them improve their Chinese language proficiency.

Alario urged them to cherish this opportunity, deepen their understanding of the Chinese language and culture, and facilitate cultural exchanges between China and Italy in the future.

Rainalter Alessandro Kurt and Alessandra Cambiotti, trainees of the summer camp, speak at the opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Rainalter Alessandro Kurt and Alessandra Cambiotti, trainees of the summer camp, gave speeches in Chinese. They said they have overcome difficulties and made constant efforts during their studies and they are happy to come to China to improve their Chinese and experience the Chinese cultures.

Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II di Roma is the first high school in Italy to have included Chinese as a compulsory course. The Confucius Classroom at the school was inaugurated in May 2010. Since its establishment, the classroom, with BFSU’s support, has organized 11 summer camps in China, which have become flagship programs of the school, as well as an important part of its Chinese language practical teaching.