Lin Qiuying

1550514780@qq.com

HAVING finished their one-week visit to Shenzhen following a trip to Beijing, a delegation of students and teachers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received a warm farewell April 29.

Shenzhen University (SZU) organized a closing ceremony for all participants, which was attended by about 30 campers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The event featured Cao Saixian, director general of the Shenzhen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Li Yonghua, vice president of SZU, and Tasneem Alsaati, director of the International Office at Prince Sultan University.

In his speech, Li expressed gratitude to the campers, as well as the teachers and volunteers who made the Chinese Bridge spring camp possible. He highlighted the camp’s role in facilitating the exploration of Chinese culture and fostering a deep appreciation for the interaction and fusion of diverse cultures. Li eagerly anticipated the contributions of Chinese and Saudi Arabian students in furthering the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Reflecting on the enriching experience, an exemplary camper shared his delight in discovering the beauty of China through the spring camp. He expressed not only his enjoyment of the varied customs across different regions but also his profound learning experiences.

The visit was marked by a diverse array of activities, offering a blend of natural beauty and urban exploration. Campers had the opportunity to explore SZU, the Southern University of Science and Technology, as well as prominent enterprises like Huawei and Tencent.

SZU also hosted Chinese language lessons and cultural activities, providing participants with an immersion into Chinese traditions. From experiencing intangible cultural heritage activities to engaging in various traditional arts, the participants gained valuable insights into Chinese culture.

During her closing speech, Cao emphasized four key attributes that epitomize Shenzhen: youth, openness, innovation, and reform.

She said that as a high-tech city, Shenzhen boasts high efficiency and is home to numerous pioneering high-tech enterprises, a testament to its culture of innovation.

The event concluded with students from SZU serenading the audience with Chinese songs, “Farewell” and “Jasmine Flower,” symbolizing the friendships forged between students from both countries.

When asked why she chose to attend the camp, Shahad, a camper from Saudi Arabia, answered, “I got interested in Chinese language, and I thought it would be a very good opportunity to learn more about China and acquire more of the language.”