Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) held its matriculation ceremony on Sept 1. This year, the university welcomed 3,917 new students from across China and 90 countries worldwide. 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, addresses the matriculation ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, warmly welcomed the incoming undergraduates, master’s and doctoral students, as well as international students, and shared tailored messages for each group. 

Jia urged undergraduates to study diligently and build a solid academic foundation. He encouraged them to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the world by cultivating cultural literacy and systematic thinking. He also called on them to explore boldly and find the path best suited to them. 

Master’s students, Jia said, should align their academic studies with the needs of the times, strengthen their ability to solve complex problems and gain experience through practice. By gaining a better understanding of society and themselves, they will build stepping stones for their future careers, he added. 

Doctoral students, Jia suggested, should shed light on civilizational exchange and spark new vitality in the study of global languages, cultures and governance. He urged them to broaden their academic vision by exploring theoretical origins, conducting fieldwork abroad and engaging in critical discussions at international forums, so that their research is firmly grounded in reality and capable of revealing essential truths. 

Addressing the international students, Jia highlighted BFSU’s multilingual and interdisciplinary programs as a bridge between China and the world. He encouraged them to view their studies and experiences in China as valuable windows into Chinese society and opportunities for deeper engagement. 

Georgian Ambassador to China Paata Kalandadze speaks at the matriculation ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Also speaking at the ceremony, Georgian Ambassador to China Paata Kalandadze congratulated the new students and praised the deep-rooted traditional friendship between China and Georgia, as well as the increasingly close strategic partnership between the two countries. 

The ambassador welcomed BFSU’s launch of a Georgian language undergraduate program this year, describing it as a milestone in bilateral educational cooperation. Georgia will fully support the program’s development and offer students opportunities to attend summer camps in the country, he said. 

Wang Yuhao, a BFSU alumnus, speaks at the matriculation ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Wang Yuhao, a BFSU alumnus and founder of the voluntourism platform World Without Borders, shared his experiences in entrepreneurship and volunteer teaching while studying at the university. Wang reflected on how BFSU’s cultivation of cross-cultural communication skills and guidance from faculty had laid a solid foundation for his entrepreneurial and career development. He also encouraged students to maintain connections with people, diverse cultures and the wider world in the era of artificial intelligence, and to explore with courage. 

Representing the BFSU faculty, Wen Zheng, professor at the School of European Languages and Cultures, delivers a speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Representing the BFSU faculty, Wen Zheng, professor at the School of European Languages and Cultures, spoke about the challenges and opportunities of the generative AI era. He advised students to develop hard-to-imitate expertise and foster aesthetic sensibilities through reading to counter the alienation of the AI age. 

Representatives of undergraduate, graduate and international students speak at the matriculation ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The ceremony also featured speeches from representatives of undergraduate, graduate and international students. They shared their personal experiences and insights and voiced their aspirations for further studies and development at BFSU. 

Wang Dinghua (R), secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, pins the university badge on the uniform of a student representative. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Wang Dinghua (C), secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, presents student ID cards to student representatives. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Student representatives present flowers to faculty members at the ceremony. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

New students take the oath of matriculation. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The event was broadcast live, with parents joining via satellite venues to share the moment. Heads of academic and administrative units, faculty representatives and student counselors attended the ceremony.