Yin Qi, a student at the School of Marxism, Tianjin University, said: "Without traveling far, we experienced diverse cultures right on campus. On stage, students shared stories through performance; off stage, we explored cuisines from different countries. I felt the most touching moments of cultural fusion here."
Gladkova Vasilian, who performed Russian characteristic dances, said: "By performing the waltz, we aim to share the cultural characteristics of our country. At the same time, we are willing to understand and integrate into China's culture, and hope to further exchange insights about the cultures of our respective nations."
"At this event, although our languages aren't entirely the same, it is precisely our interest in diverse cultures and our desire to make new friends that enable us to communicate more effectively," said Audrey Aiko Ong, an international student from Indonesia.
Since its inception in 2007, the Tianjin University International Cultural Festival has been held 16 times. Li described it as a key platform for Chinese and international students to exchange ideas and learn from one another.
Zhang Tao, director of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, said that Tianjin's international education has been advancing steadily.
Last year, the total number of international students in the city's universities reached 19,000. Tianjin has established 38 Confucius Institutes and 26 Luban Workshops worldwide, hosted two World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conferences, and organized the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese competition. These initiatives have built a broad platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning among Chinese and international youth, he said.
