China's Zhejiang University Forges Closer Ties With Global Students Via Cultural Exchanges
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- Zhejiang University (ZJU) in Hangzhou, located in East China's Zhejiang province, recently celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday highlighted by dragon boat races in honour of the ancient poet Qu Yuan.
ZJU president, Du Jiangfeng said the dragon boat represents the Chinese nation's unremitting pursuit of and good wishes for promoting world peace and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
"By using dragon boats as a medium, we aim to promote dialogue among international youth and underscore our shared goals," he said in a statement.
This sentiment was echoed by participants, including Ruslan Pavlyshyn from the University of Cambridge, who shared his enthusiasm about his first dragon boat experience, while Harvard University’s Loann Marquant also expressed fascination with the cultural depth discovered during his visit.
During the festival, ZJU hosted Yale University’s Whiffenpoofs, world's oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group, whereby together with ZJU's Wenqin Chorus, they performed choral pieces for the faculty and students, adding a vibrant cultural dimension to this cherished festival.
A week prior to the festival, students from global leading universities, including Harvard University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, Nanyang Technological University, the University of Tokyo, Yonsei University, and the University of Cambridge, converged at ZJU, one of China's oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions.
During the campus tour, international students enjoyed the dragon and lion dances, watched traditional opera and folk music performances, and tried their hand at calligraphy and seal-engraving.
Extending its cultural exchanges beyond its campus, ZJU has launched a series of cultural initiatives in Europe since the beginning of this year, presenting the Comprehensive Collection of Chinese Ancient Paintings to the partner universities and cultural institutions in Italy, France, and Hungary.
As ZJU continues to champion the Global Civilization Initiative, it currently remains at the forefront of fostering international cooperation and cultural exchanges, strengthening ties between East and West through shared cultural endeavours.
-- BERNAMA
