On September 19, the launch ceremony of the “Talking to the World” Belt and Road Cultural Exchange Intangible Cultural Heritage Season was successfully held at the New Social Class People’s Community Center in Dashi Village, Shantou Subdistrict. Men Huihua, Director of International Affairs Office and Dean of the School of International Education of Shandong Agriculture and Engineering University, attended the event and delivered a speech. The event brought together diverse resources and united multiple stakeholders. It was jointly organized and supported by Zibo Keke Student Aid Service Center, the Publicity Department of CPC Boshan District Committee, the United Front Work Department of CPC Boshan District Committee, the Social Work Department of CPC Boshan District Committee, the Central School of Chishang Town, Boshan District. Through collaborative efforts, the participating parties jointly established a platform for cultural exchange. The event adopted an innovative university–social organization collaboration model. More than 30 international students from the School of International Education of our university and representatives of junior middle school students from the Central School of Chishang Town participated together, engaging in dialogue with the world and experiencing Chinese culture through intangible cultural heritage activities.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Xie Xiaoying, Director of the Keke Student Aid Service Center, gave an overall introduction to the “Talking to the World” Belt and Road cultural exchange program, explaining its original purpose, activity concept, and implementation plan. She expressed the hope that intangible cultural heritage could serve as a bridge for cultural exchange and help build a platform for mutual learning among civilizations.
Men Huihua delivered a speech on the themes of intangible cultural heritage preservation and “Talking to the World.” She highlighted the significance of collaboration between universities and social organizations in promoting cultural communication. She noted that, through this collaboration between our university and the Keke Student Aid Service Center, intangible cultural heritage preservation, rural education, and international exchange have been brought together. This not only helps promote the circulation and vitality of traditional cultural resources, but also provides professional support for public welfare programs. More importantly, it enables the practical education of international students at our university to move beyond the campus and into real-life settings in China.
Sun Tao, a Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Boshan District Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, extended warm congratulations on the successful launch of the event. He expressed the hope that the Intangible Cultural Heritage Season would serve as an opportunity to further explore local traditional cultural resources, build platforms for exchanges between Chinese and foreign young people, bring intangible cultural heritage to life and promote its dissemination, and advance mutual learning and exchange among diverse cultures.
Following the ceremony, all participants gathered for a group photo.
A series of themed intangible cultural heritage activities then got underway. Li Fuyuan, Deputy Director of Boshan Institute of Cultural Studies, introduced the Chinese and international students to the historical origins and cultural heritage of Boshan colored glass. During the intangible cultural heritage sharing session, Sadi and Zhu Yawen, international students from our university, took turns introducing the intangible cultural heritage of their respective countries. Internatioanal students exchanged handwritten greeting cards with junior middle school students from the Central School of Chishang Town and engaged in English-language conversation. The event also featured a tasting session showcasing intangible cultural heritage products. Chinese and international young people tasted provincial-level intangible cultural heritage mooncakes and sampled Boshan’s distinctive kiwifruit, experiencing the charm of Chinese folk customs through local delicacies and everyday cultural traditions. At the end of the event, all participants had the opportunity to experience the production of Boshan lampworking glass firsthand. By personally taking part in the unique craft of shaping glass through intense heat, they gained an immersive appreciation of the distinctive charm of this intangible cultural heritage technique.
This event represented a meaningful practice by the School of International Education of our university in promoting social practice and cultural experiences for international students in China. Through university–social organization collaboration, international students from our university entered Chinese rural communities and experienced intangible cultural heritage firsthand. Through hands-on activities, they gained a deeper understanding of Chinese craftsmanship and ingenuity, while through interaction and cultural exchange, they became more closely connected with Chinese society. Our university will continue to expand channels for university–community cooperation, create more platforms for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and other countries, and help international students become cultural ambassadors who understand China, foster friendship with China, and develop a deep appreciation for China, while serving as bridges of friendship connecting China and the world.
