On September 17^th, the International Cultural Festival, one of the activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the university, was inaugurated in the Central Campus. Over 2,000 students from 51 countries including the US, Russia, Canada, Japan, France, Pakistan and Madagascar gathered together, demonstrating their own countrys’ culture in China. This cultural feast presented students of Jilin University the opportunity to experience exotic cultures by themselves.

Yang Zhenbin, the Party Secretary of Jilin University, attended the inauguration and delivered a speech. Other attendees include Kwon Young Ho, President of South Korea IB Group, and his wife, Masaru Araki, Vice President of Okayama University, Yoko Yamamoto, Vice President of Okayama University, and Professor Liu Debin, President Assistant and Dean of School of International and Public Affairs. Li Meihua, Dean of College of International Education, hosted the inauguration. Iatcyna Valentina delivered a speech on behalf of international students.

In his speech, Yang Zhenbin said that the International Cultural Festival, as a part of the celebrations of the 70^th anniversary of Jilin University, was of huge significance. The festival added to the cultural richness and exoticism on the campus. The festival presented the miniatures of cultures of many other countries and served as the bridge of cultural exchanges. It could not only broaden the global horizon of Chinese and international teachers and students but also provide the stage for international students to improve themselves and demonstrate their talents.

Jilin University is as open and inclusive as the sea. It appreciates and accommodates different cultures, and understands and respects diverse values. Cultures of many countries interact on the campus, building a platform for cultural integration and creating a bond of cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Yang Zhenbin hoped that international students could make full use of this opportunity to have more exchanges and interaction, facilitate friendship between countries and contribute to world peace and development.

It is learned that Jilin University had held the International Cultural Festival for ten times since 2003. It allows international students to demonstrate their own culture and facilitates exchanges between Chinese and international students, playing a key role in making the campus more internationalized.

This cultural festival was an important part of the celebrations of the 70^th anniversary of Jilin University. It had four parts, namely, display of world cultures, artistic performance, interactive games and food sharing. Over 1,000 international students from 51 countries organized and participated in it. Also, representatives of departments involved in the cultivation of international students and other relevant departments of Jilin University participated in the activity.  

Nearly 10,000 students participated in and interacted with this cultural festival. The number of countries and people that were involved set a record.

Published on www.cssn.cn

(Journalist: Zhao Xuzhou and Zeng Jiang)