As one of the most anticipated event on the school calendar, the tenth annual Peking University (PKU) International Culture Festival (ICF) kicked off on the sunny morning of October 19th, 2013.
This year marked the tenth year that PKU have held the ICF. With this year’s theme of “A Decade of memories, U See China, I See the World”, it set to create a unique global village here at the beautiful Yanyuan. Assisting in the ICF included overseas students from more than 68 countries and territories, and more than 200 volunteers.
At 9.00 am, Professor Zhu Shanlu, Chairman of PKU council, officially launched the event at the PKU Centennial Memorial Auditorium Plaza. Also in attendance included guests from the Chinese government and foreign dignitaries. This include Chen Yinghui, deputy director of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education, Liu Jinghui, Secretary General of China Scholarship Council, and Lei Fengyun, Vice General Director, State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.
The opening ceremony also saw the attendance of H.E. Mr. Friis Arne Petersen, the ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Latif Gandilou, the ambassador of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Kabir Farahi, the ambassador of Afghanistan, H.E. Mr. Jose M. Borjia, the ambassador of Ecuador, H. E. Ralph Thomas, the ambassador of Jamaica, H.E. Mr. Karl Hood, the ambassador of Grenada, H.E. Mr. Clifford Borg Marks, ambassadors of Malta, and more than 40 diplomats from 22 countries. The ceremony is hosted by Professor Li Yansong, Vice President of PKU.
In his speech, Chairman Zhu expounded upon his vision of PKU as a world-class university. He pointed out that PKU is a global university with modern characteristics. He also emphasized that the annual ICF is one of the most important event of PKU, and it showcased the effectiveness of the study-abroad policy. He mentioned that he have recently received the news that a foreign student alumnus of PKU have been elected President of Ethiopia. He cited him as an example to mark his high expectation for all the overseas students to achieve in whatever field they are in after leaving PKU. After expressing his appreciation to all the guests present, Chairman Zhu passed the ICF flag to the foreign student representative, marking the official commencement of the ICF.
H.E. Mr. Friis Arne Petersen, ambassador of Denmark to China, reiterated the importance of cross cultural exchanges. In his speech, he have high praises of PKU ICF, and hope that it will continue to be a good platform for students from different countries. Next, a PhD candidate from the School of Life Sciences shared her experience of participating in ICF, and hope that foreign students from PKU will continue to contribute towards the diversity of the university.
Finally, guests, representatives of alumnus and foreign students went onto the stage to piece together the puzzles and formed the beautiful label of the tenth ICF. The “zero” in the picture represented the Megalaima, signifying that outstanding youths from around the world get together here to display their youthful vitality and various world culture.
For the past 10 years, the ICF have bear witness to the openness and inclusiveness of the school, fundamentals to the PKU spirit. It have left fond memories to all students from PKU, past and present. After a decade of success, ICF will continue to be one of the highlight of PKU.
Written by: Zhou Jin
Edited by: Heng Kang Wei
