Hangzhou in May embraces the world with an open attitude. When the wind of the Andes Mountains meets the willow-lined shores of West Lake, the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University welcomes 103 teachers and students from Colegio Gimnasio Vermont in Colombia. The ancient Inca wisdom and Chinese civilization complemented each other, and the pace of tango harmonized with the rhythm of Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River). This is a cross-Pacific journey for academic exchange and friendship.
On May 13, Jose Daniel Rojas Medellín, Colombia’s Minister of Education, visited Beihang University. He reached consensus with Wang Yunpeng, President of Beihang University, on deepening cultural and people-to-people exchanges, organizing youth exchange activities on a regular basis, and jointly enhancing the global competence of the younger generation.
Half a month later, 103 teachers and students from Colegio Gimnasio Vermont travelled across mountains and seas to the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University as scheduled for technological and cultural exchanges. This event combined the experience of Chinese culture, exploration of contemporary technological development, and communication between Chinese and foreign students, gaining comprehensive insights into the charm and vitality of the campus and Hangzhou. This is the first delegation of Colombian teenagers to arrive at Beihang University following the visit of the country’s Minister of Education, and the first time that the “China Tour of Colegio Gimnasio Vermont” came to Hangzhou.
At the welcoming ceremony, Zhang Wei, Vice Director of the Hangzhou International Innovation Institute of Beihang University (H3I), delivered a speech, extending warm greetings to the teachers and students from Colegio Gimnasio Vermont. He also gave briefings on the international features and development of the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University.
Wu Xiaojun, Executive Director of the International Education Center at H3I, reviewed the cooperation between Beihang University and Colegio Gimnasio Vermont and expressed the hope that more Colombian students would pursue further studies at Beihang University.
Carlos Esteban Perez, Vice President of Colegio Gimnasio Vermont, extended sincere gratitude to H3I and expressed the hope to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges.
Maria Antonia Anaya, the student representative of Colegio Gimnasio Vermont, shared her excitement, saying: “The tour to China, the visit to Beihang University, and the experience of unique Chinese culture and cutting-edge laboratory equipment are incredibly exciting!”
In the special reports section, Professor Sun Gongling, the principal scientist of the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (Affiliated to the United Nations) and a member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), gave a presentation on “China’s space development and international development”, sharing examples of space cooperation between China and Latin America and looking ahead to the future development prospects.
During the exchange, the teachers and students from Colegio Gimnasio Vermont visited Tianmushan Laboratory, Terahertz International Innovation Center, Medical Engineering & Engineering Medicine Innovation Center, the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (Affiliated to the United Nations), and Alibaba Cloud, the global cloud computing leader. By coming into close contact with cutting-edge technology applications and listening to insights shared by industry experts, they appreciated the robust vitality of Chinese technology and the strong academic atmosphere and innovative vitality at the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University in the field of frontier technology.
In the Chinese class, the students learned basic vocabulary for daily use amid laughter and joy, and experienced the traditional Chinese paper-cutting art. Following the guidance of the teacher, they learned to cut auspicious window decorations and felt the ingenuity and wisdom of Chinese folk art in every cut and fold.
The event coincided with the Dragon Boat Festival, which allowed the Colombian teachers and students to have an immersive experience of the first Chinese traditional festival listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. On May 31, the students learned about the origin and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival and learned to make Zongzi with great enthusiasm. By wrapping glutinous rice with bamboo leaves, they truly felt the charm of Chinese food culture and the warm atmosphere of the festival. In the afternoon, the students visited Pingyao Old Street. Amid the ancient and charming alleys, they explored the characteristics and inheritance of traditional culture, enjoying themselves in a cultural feast that transcended time and space.
In addition, the students performed the energetic song and dance show Mix Colombia at the choral competition of the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University, adding a vibrant touch of youth through their artistic talent. During the friendly match, they made friends while playing volleyball, narrowing the distance with the faculty and students from Beihang during the games of sweat and laughter.
Gathering across mountains and seas, Colombian teachers and students embarked on a journey in pursuit of technology and found common ground based on culture. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Colombia diplomatic ties, this exchange has not only showcased the achievements of H3I in education, technology, and talent development to the Colombian teachers and students but also presented China as a country rich in heritage and full of vitality to the world. It allowed young people at home and abroad to know each other through understanding and grow together through integration!
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
