Tianshan Net/Xinjiang Daily reporter Zhao Xiya
On April 15, the campus of Xinjiang Normal University became a boiling ocean, where nearly 500 young students from eight SCO countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan and Iran, gathered here to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for young students from SCO countries.
On April 15, young students from eight SCO countries watched a martial arts performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for Young Students from SCO Countries. Photo by Tianshan Net/Xinjiang Daily reporter Zhao Xiya
Although these students from different countries have different skin colors and different languages, they all have a Chinese name, can speak authentic Chinese, and have a strong Chinese feeling.
15-year-old Ellie, from No. 5 Middle School in Astana, Kazakhstan, started learning Chinese at the age of 10 and won the first prize in the first "Chinese Bridge" World Primary School Student Chinese Show. "This is my first time in China, and I want to learn more about the culture here, make Chinese friends, and become a friendship messenger for cultural exchanges. "Aili is a Chinese fan, and after arriving in Urumqi in the past two days, she went to the Xinjiang Museum, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar and other places to check in. She said that Xinjiang is a vast country and rich in natural resources, and her friends in Xinjiang are very enthusiastic, and she has taken a lot of video materials, preparing to exchange and share them with her classmates after returning to China.
At the opening ceremony, when the students of Xinjiang Normal University warmed up the field to perform Chinese martial arts rhyme and dance skewers, cheers and applause came one after another.
On April 15, at the opening ceremony of the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for Young Students from SCO Countries, the dance performance attracted students to take pictures. Photo by Shi Tianshan Net/Xinjiang Daily reporter Zhao Xiya
The presentation of martial arts elements such as knife skills, stick techniques, double whips, tai chi, and Shaolin boxing made Ru Yi, a student from Doon University in India, addicted. Ru Yi is very fond of Chinese kung fu, and Jackie Chan is one of the Chinese martial arts stars she admires the most. At present, Ru has been studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute at Doon University for three years, and interestingly, under her influence, her parents also fell in love with Chinese culture, and the family often watched Chinese movies and listened to Chinese songs together. "After graduating from university, I also want to come to China for graduate studies, to strengthen my study of Chinese history and culture, and to become a 'China expert' who studies both internally and externally. Ru Yi said.
On April 15, campers of the 2024 "Chinese Bridge" Spring Camp for Young Students from SCO Countries experienced Peking Opera face painting at Xinjiang Normal University. Photo by Tianshan Net/Xinjiang Daily reporter Zhao Xiya
The friendship between countries lies in the people-to-people relationship, and the people-to-people relationship lies in the heart-to-heart connection. Xinjiang, China, borders eight neighboring countries and has advantages in geographical, cultural and educational resources, which have become a natural link between Xinjiang and Central Asian countries to carry out in-depth cooperation in higher education. According to statistics, at present, Xinjiang universities have set up 10 Confucius Institutes (classrooms) in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and other countries.
In recent years, Xinjiang Normal University has played the role of the Ministry of Education's "Demonstration Base for International Student Education" and Confucius Institutes and other platform bases, carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation with universities of the SCO member states, continuously innovated the mode of Chinese cultural communication and education, and trained nearly 10,000 international students, becoming the backbone of Xinjiang's training of international students in China.
"Language is a bridge and a tool for communication, and I believe that the young friends on this trip will definitely gain precious friendships in cultural learning and exchanges, and leave good memories in the process of growing together. As the organizer of the spring camp, Ge Guo, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Normal University, said that the school will work with other co-organizers to build a broad stage for communication and friendship, and organize a wonderful trip to China for young students from all over the world.