The 2024 Discover China Summer Program, hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and organized by the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, opened at the university on Monday. 

The opening ceremony brought together a total of 80 participants from 30 countries, including Australia, the Republic of the Congo, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Turkmenistan and the United States.

Chen Dali, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at China's Ministry of Education, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2024 BFSU Discover China Summer Program on July 8, 2024. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Under the guidance of the Global Civilization Initiative, the Chinese government and various departments have established diverse communication channels to facilitate greater interactions between Chinese youth and their counterparts worldwide. The aim is to foster a more comprehensive, extensive, multilayered and proactive approach to international educational openness and enhance mutual learning with countries around the world, said Chen Dali, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at China's Ministry of Education. 

The Discover China Program, as a representative summer program in the country, is a significant platform for youth from around the world to experience and understand contemporary China, Chen added. 

He said he hopes that participants will expand their horizons, enrich their knowledge and work energetically towards societal progress and international understanding. 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2024 BFSU Discover China Summer Program on July 8, 2024. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, encouraged program participants to seize the opportunity to witness China's vibrant social development and cultural heritage firsthand. He also urged them to actively engage in dialogue with their counterparts on the program. 

BFSU hopes that the Discover China Summer Program will foster friendship between China’s younger generation and the rest of the world, and inject energy into educational exchanges and people-to-people interactions among various countries, Jia added. 

Teacher and student representatives speak at the 2024 BFSU Discover China Summer Program’s opening ceremony on July 8, 2024. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Representing teachers, Zhang Tianwei, director of the BFSU Office of Academic Research, said the program will present a comprehensive and multi-dimensional image of China. He expected the participants to recognize the importance of communication and exchange, maintain an open-minded perspective and experience Chinese culture as a means of understanding contemporary China. 

Student representatives Ivonne Vargas from Mexico and Beniamin Shurdhi from Albania talked about their motivations for joining the Discover China program. 

Vargas said her reason for attending was her curiosity about China's rich culture, profound history and incredible progress in various fields. Hoping to foster international friendships, she quoted from a well-known Chinese poem "If you have a friend afar who knows your heart, distance cannot keep you two apart". 

Vargas said she believes that what she learns through the program will not only help her grow as a person, but can also contribute to global unity. 

Every space at BFSU represents a language or culture of the world, making a visit to the university feel like exploring the entire globe in next to no time, said Shurdhi. He added that he hopes to discover new knowledge, explore the unknown, share perspectives and form friendships. 

Officials present class flags to student representatives of the 2024 BFSU Discover China Summer Program on July 8, 2024. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The program held its first session in May this year, when it invited 14 American students and an accompanying teacher to China to gain a better understanding of the country. 

Over the course of two weeks, from July 7 to 21, the current session's 80 participants will deepen their understanding of China through thematic lectures, dialogue, practical research and interactions with experts, scholars, business professionals, international organizations, social organizations and fellow students. 

The initiative aims to promote mutual understanding between China and other countries, fostering people-to-people exchanges and cultural appreciation. 

Participants pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the 2024 BFSU Discover China Summer Program on July 8, 2024. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]