Source: News Center Author: Xu Yi, Ye Yujun, and Li Shaomei
The opening ceremony of the Summer Camp
Lingnan Normal University News Center News: On the morning of 3 June, the opening ceremony of the 2017 Summer Camp of Confucius Classroom at Belarusian State University of Physical Culture (BSUPC) (hereinafter referred to as “summer camp”) was held. Ms. Lan Yanze, Vice President of Lingnan Normal University (LNU), extended a warm welcome to the teachers and students of Confucius Classroom at BSUPC. She said, “We have prepared you a variety of activities at this summer camp. I believe that when you enjoy the fun activities, you will also gain more insights and experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.”
At the ceremony, Ms. Lan gave a brief introduction of LNU as well as the schedule for the courses and activities at this summer camp. As she said, the summer camp provides a great platform for young students to strengthen friendship, and it plays a significant role in enhancing students’ understanding of the profound traditional Chinese culture, strengthening multicultural exchanges, and extending the horizon of cultural careers. In her opinion, in an era of globalization and informatization, students should not limit their study in the classrooms. Instead, they should get to know more diverse cultural patterns, to be inclusive and to cultivate a broader view of fine culture and pluralistic thinking. She hoped that young students from Belarus and Zhanjiang could actively engage in the activities to further deepen their knowledge and recognition of traditional Chinese culture. In the future, they can become enthusiastic communicators of Chinese culture and facilitators of the mutual exchanges between Chinese civilization and other civilizations, thus making contributions to advancing the Belt and Road Initiative.
Lin Li, associate researcher of Zhanjiang Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau, gave students an introduction of the development of Zhanjiang. She said that the summer camp was a valuable opportunity not just for the youth to learn Chinese language, but more importantly, to learn about the city and Chinese excellent culture. She hoped that the participating students could take this chance to learn more about China and Zhanjiang City, and build a bridge of friendship between Zhanjiang and Belarus during the course of learning, interaction and exchange.
Kastseyeva Natallia, the group leader of BSUPC students, had full confidence in the summer camp, and she believed that it provided students a platform for mutual learning despite space and time barriers. She said, “This is my third trip to China, and every time I come to China, I feel something new.” She said that Chinese language learning was very popular in Belarus and Belarussians loved Chinese culture. The summer camp will surely strengthen the friendship and cooperation between LNU and BSUPC.
Sergej Repkin, Rector of BSUPC, sent a video message to review the history of cooperation between our two universities. He looked forward to more chances for mutual cooperation in the future, and wished the summer camp a great success. Alla Lavrenchuk, a teacher of BSUPC, also greeted the LNU students via video.
On behalf of LNU students, Lv Huiting expressed that the summer camp promoted the exchanges of feelings and culture, and enlightened students through the collision of ideas. At this camp, students can enrich knowledge, strengthen exchanges and enhance friendship while having fun. Bai Wei and Jin Xiao, the student representatives from Confucius Classroom at BSUPC, said that they had improved Chinese language skills greatly through the study of the Confucius Classroom. They wished to teach Chinese language in the future to actively strengthen the friendship between China and Belarus, especially the friendly exchange among the youth.
Kastseyeva Natallia and Mrs. Lan Yanze exchanged souvenirs, followed by a flag-presenting ceremony. Mrs. Lan then announced the opening of the summer camp.
It is learned that the summer camp will last 14 days. Students will learn Chinese language, martial arts, paper cutting, tea ceremony, Chinese painting and massage at LNU. A splendid cultural feast of Chinese civilization is waiting for them.
The heads of some departments and schools of LNU also attended the opening ceremony. It was held in the International Conference Hall and hosted by Zheng Zhijun, Director of Office of International Exchange & Cooperation.
(Photoes by Chen Yongban, Wang Yuqin and Li Zhibin)
