The inauguration ceremony for the first session of the Discover China All-English Summer Program for International Students took place at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on May 16.

The program is a collaborative effort between the university's International Exchange and Cooperation Office and Beiwai Online, with the initial cohort of students hailing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

Zhao Gang, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, delivers a speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhao Gang, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, warmly welcomed IUP faculty and students to the BFSU campus. In his address, Zhao emphasized the crucial role of youth in shaping the future of nations and underscored the importance of fostering friendship and promoting mutual development between young people from China and the United States. 

The Discover China Program aims to introduce students from the US and other countries to China through a combination of lectures, seminars and field visits, Zhao said. He expressed his hope that the students will gain new knowledge and insights in China and bring their observations and reflections back to the US. He looked forward to welcoming more US students to BFSU in the future.

Cai Jing (L), vice-dean of Beiwai Online, and Xu Mo (R), a lecturer representative of the Discover China Program and teacher from BFSU's Graduate School of Education, speak at the ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Cai Jing, vice-dean of Beiwai Online, said she hopes that the credit exchange master's program, a joint initiative between BFSU and IUP, will benefit more students from both China and the US. She encouraged the participants to experience China's economic and social growth firsthand and enhance their understanding of the country.

Xu Mo, a lecturer representative of the Discover China Program and teacher from BFSU's Graduate School of Education, shared her own experiences during her studies and academic exchanges in the US. Xu engaged the students with questions about their first impressions of BFSU and expectations for the summer program, which elicited enthusiastic responses.

Liu Shijuan (L), a professor from IUP’s Department of Foreign Languages, and student representative Elizabeth Ashe (R) from IUP speak at the ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Liu Shijuan, a professor from IUP’s Department of Foreign Languages, thanked the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE) for its support of the collaboration between the two universities. She expressed gratitude to BFSU for providing the students with the opportunity to experience China's growth, saying that she believes that the program will be both educational and memorable for the participants.

Student representative Elizabeth Ashe from IUP greeted the participants in Chinese and shared that despite spending only one day on campus, the students were already impressed by BFSU’s beautiful scenery, delicious food and convenient services. She expressed heartfelt thanks to the welcoming team and eagerly anticipated the upcoming activities.

Zhao Gang (2nd R), a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, and Zheng Han (1st R), deputy director of the International Division of the MOE’s Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, present the flag of the 2024 BFSU Discover China Program to teacher and student representatives. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Participants pose for a group photo at the inauguration ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The Discover China Program is part of BFSU's efforts to implement the future-oriented "San Francisco vision". The program was designed to narrate China's stories in English, enhance the comprehensive understanding of China among young people from the US and around the world, and promote international cultural exchanges and interactions among the youth globally.