Exchange program participants deliver a message at Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang. [Photo/Lianyungang Daily]

From July 11 to 24, Jiangsu Ocean University in Lianyungang hosted a two-week exchange event for 50 young professionals from 12 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The program aimed to enhance mutual understanding, deepen friendships, and explore opportunities for collaboration among participants.

The event began with a visit to Beijing, where the participants toured the Ministry of Education's Center for Language Education and Cooperation and historical sites including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. They engaged in Chinese language interactive projects and experienced the capital's rich cultural heritage firsthand.

The program continued in Lianyungang, where participants learned basic Chinese for daily communication, sampled Chinese cuisine, and took part in traditional dragon boat races. They visited notable locations such as Kongwang Mountain, Huaguo Mountain, Liandao Island, the SCO (Lianyungang) International Logistics Park, and the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base, gaining a comprehensive understanding of China's language, traditional culture, and modernization.

Akniyazov Timur, head of the China-Kazakhstan Economic and Trade School at Astana International University, noted that post-event surveys revealed a deeper appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture, history, and economy among the participants from various countries.

Post-event surveys reveal a better understanding of Chinese culture, history, and economy among the participants from various countries. [Photo/Lianyungang Daily]