Shanghai: Shanghai Ocean University held its 8th international culture festival and Chinese language day on Friday, in a vibrant celebration that brought international cuisines, performances and cultural exhibitions to campus.
Jiang Min, vice-president of the university, highlighted the university’s 71-year history of international education, noting that students from 116 countries have studied at the institution. She expressed hope that every international student would serve as a cultural envoy to realize the vision of five continents shining together in harmonious coexistence.
Benter Anyango, a doctoral student from Kenya, emphasized the broader impact of their education. “Here, we not only accumulate knowledge and expand networks but also gain the power to bridge underdeveloped and developing countries with advanced economies,” she said.
The festival featured diverse cultural traditions through performances, including Chinese classical dance and traditional Tongan dance. Students from Vietnam, Cameroon, Thailand, Indonesia also performed, showcasing their countries’ cultural heritage and traditional attire. “The idea was to bring our culture and Oceania’s heart to Shanghai Ocean University,” Finau Paea, a Tongan marine science student, said. “This festival is about exchanging cultures. We learn from different cultures, and they learn from ours.”
“For Tonga, a small Pacific island, collaboration with China offers significant help. We look forward to strengthening bonds between our countries,” she said, adding she intends to bring back what she learned in China to her country and teach fishing communities sustainable practices that protect oceans and marine life.
Following the performances, a cultural carnival opened with exhibition areas featuring food, handicrafts, and interactive games. The Lancang-Mekong rice-fish project display demonstrated how integrated agriculture and fishery techniques support poverty alleviation and sustainable development. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
