Asma al-Assad, first lady of the Syrian Arab Republic, visited Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Sept 26. 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, delivers a speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, warmly welcomed the first lady and her delegation. He reflected on the longstanding friendship between China and Syria since the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as BFSU's role as the "cradle of diplomats" and its significant contributions to the friendly relations between the two countries. 

Jia emphasized the remarkable achievements of BFSU's Arabic language program in nurturing talented individuals in various fields, including those involving Syria in diplomacy and foreign affairs, as well as journalism, education and academic research. 

He also expressed gratitude to the Syrian government, universities and research institutions for their continuous support and assistance in developing the program. 

Asma al-Assad, first lady of the Syrian Arab Republic, delivers a speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Assad's speech centered around the role of the mother tongue and national and cultural identity. She stressed the importance of preserving the origin of one's civilization and actively engaging in cultural exchanges with others, which echoes the core principle of China's Belt and Road Initiative proposed a decade ago. 

The first lady also commended China's commitment to protecting its national culture and pursuing an independent and self-reliant development model in recent years. 

Students at BFSU’s School of Arabic Studies recite poems written by renowned Syrian poets Nizar Qabbani and Adonis. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Students at BFSU’s School of Arabic Studies showcase a calligraphy work that reads "Long Live China-Syria Friendship" in the Arabic language. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia Wenjian (R), deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, presents Asma al-Assad (L), first lady of the Syrian Arab Republic, with a commemorative gift as a token of appreciation. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Subsequent to her speech, Assad engaged in a dialogue meeting with more than 40 guests from foreign embassies, universities and research institutions, as well as with faculty and students at BFSU. They held discussions on such topics as sports and national character, the preservation of Syrian ancient monuments, cultural cooperation and the Hangzhou Asian Games. 

Asma al-Assad, first lady of the Syrian Arab Republic, is warmly welcomed by the faculty and students at BFSU. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]