The 14th Chinese Bridge Summer Camp: “You and Me, in Beijing” began at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on July 16. 

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) and BFSU, this year’s event has attracted 125 teachers and students from Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Malaysia, Spain and Hungary. 

Jia Wenjian (L), BFSU president and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, meets with Bulgaria's Ambassador to China Andrey Tehov before the opening ceremony of the 2024 BFSU Chinese Bridge Summer Camp: “You and Me, in Beijing” on July 16. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

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

Addressing the opening ceremony, Zhao Gang, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, said the summer camp is a flagship part of the university’s efforts to promote the Chinese language internationally. Over the past 13 years, it has hosted more than 1,000 Chinese language learners from around the world, enabling them to experience the charm of the Chinese language, the vibrant city of Beijing and Chinese culture in general.

Zhao said he hopes that this year’s participants will give their all, forge friendships and pursue their dreams, thereby connecting with China and the world, bridging cultural gaps in the process. 

Qu Songming, an official from the CLEC, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

In his speech, Qu Songming, an official from the CLEC, encouraged Generation Z students participating in the camp to enjoy learning Chinese, gain insights into the new aspects of China and forge solid bonds and mutual understanding.

Teacher and student representatives speak at the summer camp’s opening ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Mariana Ubach Huelin, a Chinese language teacher at the Confucius Institute in Barcelona, Spain, spoke of her connection with China and the Chinese language, expressing heartfelt thanks to the organizers of the summer camp. She said she looks forward to learning in Beijing, a city with a profound history and rich culture, and to creating wonderful memories. 

Darin Athira Binti Mohammed Azzath, a student from the Confucius Institute at the University of Malaya in Malaysia, has been learning Chinese since childhood and has participated in the Chinese Bridge competitions organized by the Confucius Institute for two years running. As a student representative, Azzath said she is excited to be attending this year’s camp and eager to communicate in Chinese with her peers from around the world. 

Officials present team flags to representatives of the six participating countries. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Officials present commemorative books to summer camp teachers. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

With more than a decade of development and refinement behind it, “You and Me, in Beijing” offers high-quality Chinese courses and diverse cultural activities, allowing overseas Chinese language learners to feel the dynamic pulse of China and the charm of world cultural integration. 

Participants at the 2024 BFSU Chinese Bridge Summer Camp: “You and Me, in Beijing” pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]