Sep. 20, 2018 was an important day for Man Yue, a senior majoring in Arabic. She would become one of the delegates on behalf of the P. R. C. for the China-Egypt Youth Forum, to be held in Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Language (HQUFL), and do a face to face exchange with students from Cairo University in Egypt.
China-Egypt Youth Forum
“Experiencing Customs in Northeast China, and Deepening Friendship between China and Egypt,” a foreign-aid education program co-hosted by Jilin Provincial Education Department and HQUFL, is the first one of its type ever to be conducted in a private university across the country. 17 teachers and students from Cairo University participated for twelve days in a field study of the history, the economy and the culture in Jilin Province learning and experiencing traditional Chinese culture and art via the Chinese Culture Workshop in HQUFL. They also made exchanges and friendship with Chinese youths by means of the Youth Forum, the Tea Party, the Art Gala as well as Thematic Reports on the “Belt and Road” Initiative.
Man Yue delivering a speech
“We had three undergraduates and one postgraduate participating in the Forum, to deliver speeches and do the discussion all in Arabic. It is a valuable opportunity for us to practice speaking Arabic and do the self-presentation,” said Man Yue, who had spent one whole week making preparations for the Forum. “I sincerely appreciate it that our university can offer us this opportunity to communicate with youth friends from Arab countries. I will surely take the chance to talk about our beautiful country and HQUFL, our enriched college life, and my beloved Arabic. During the 12-day-period, all the students in my class will accompany and render service as interpreting volunteers for the faculty and students from Cairo University. We hope they will like Jilin Province and HQFUL”.
Egyptian undergraduate delivering a speech
The China-Egypt Youth Forum, with “Peace, Harmony and Cooperation” as its theme, was the debut of the foreign-aid education program. Wang Mei and Ma Yujie (Chinese names), Egyptian students from the Confucius Institute of Cairo University, held high hopes for this visit. They said, “The Chinese culture is fascinating, and Changchun is a very beautiful city. We believe that we can make friends with many Chinese youths, and it’s quite a pleasure to communicate with them.”
Chinese and Egyptian youths earnestly listening to speeches
Egypt is a major country along the routes of the “Belt and Road.” On the “Belt and Road” Initiative, an increasingly closer bond has recently been forged in all sectors between China and Egypt, particularly in education. The leadership in the Jilin Provincial Education Department said that this Jilin-based foreign-aid education program, fully supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE), was conducted with the purpose of creating a broader communication platform and more profound cooperation opportunities for young students from both sides. Additionally, it may help offer a better acquaintance and understanding between the students of the two countries, thus further consolidating China-Egypt friendship and exerting continuous efforts together to carry forward their friendship.
China-Egypt youths applauding for the speech
“We expect all the students to present their language learning achievements and improve themselves in a series of activities under the foreign-aid program,” said Wang Jie, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation branch of HQUFL. “We also wish all the students would realize the advantages of learning Arabic so as to stimulate their interest and motivation, and each one would work harder to excel in Arabic so as to serve as a bridge and bond of friendly exchange and cooperation between China and Arabic-speaking nations.”
As the only independent foreign language university in Jilin Province, HQUFL persists in its commitment of undertaking its responsibility to promote the “Belt and Road” Initiative and provide service for the development of local or regional economy and society. It tries to fulfill its commitment by cultivating high-qualified applied, multi-faceted and international talents, who have a clear national consciousness, a global mindset, and a good command of international law and rules, and who are well-rounded in “Knowledge, Ability and Personality.” To promote international schooling, the university has started multi-dimensional cooperation and exchanges with over 130 universities and colleges in 20 plus states and regions. It attaches tremendous value to the cooperation and communication with the nations along the “Belt and Road” and Arabic countries. Among all the 13 foreign language majors, the number of languages targeted on the “Belt and Road” is up to 6. The Arabic department in HQUFL is the exclusive major to simultaneously enroll undergraduates and postgraduates in Jilin Province. The major has been established for 4 years. Its student employment rate has already reached 97%. Most of HQUFL graduates who majored in Arabic, work or pursue advanced studies in Arabic countries, such as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
