"I had limited exposure to modern China during my college years as our focus was primarily on Chinese culture, history, and language," said Eizabveta Krasikova from Russia. She was reflecting on her experience at the two-week-long summer program on "An Overview of Modern China and City Development", held in Beijing from Aug 7 to 18.

The program, hosted by Beijing International Studies University (BISU) and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, brought together 50 students from 28 countries and regions worldwide.

For Krasikova, 26, who graduated from Moscow State University, her initial encounter with the Chinese language occurred rather accidentally due to the educational system in Russia, which assigns majors and second languages to students.

"Learning Chinese wasn't my first choice, to be honest, but I did have a certain level of interest," she said. "Yet, as I delved deeper into my studies, my affection for China and its culture grew."

Following her graduation, Krasikova decided to stay at the university, serving as a Chinese language teacher while also conducting linguistic research. Her first visit to China was in 2017, in Shanghai, and ever since then, Krasikova nurtured a desire to return.

In contrast, László Erik Kovács from Hungary deliberately embarked on his journey of learning Chinese at the age of 20. "I was entirely self-taught," he said very proudly.

Kovács, 45, serves as a secretary at the Confucius Institute at the University of Debrecen, located in the Hungarian town of Debrecen. He pointed out that the university hosts the largest number of Chinese students in Hungary, enrolling over 500 new Chinese students every year. This environment has fostered cultural exchange, arousing interest among Hungarian students in different elements of Chinese culture, such as calligraphy and tai chi.

Despite his daily engagement with Chinese culture, however, Kovács himself had never been to China before — until now.

To facilitate this program, the institute and the university established a partnership with BISU several years ago involving personnel exchanges.

The program's daily schedule typically consists of morning lectures followed by afternoon field trips, ensuring an in-depth learning experience. For instance, when morning lectures introduce China's modernization, the subsequent trips provide tangible and relative experiences — like visits to the 12345 service hotline call center, which facilitates urban residents' interactions with specific service departments, and expeditions to the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province via high-speed train.

"We strive to shape our lectures with a foundation in general education to arouse students' curiosity. Our approach emphasizes relatable examples over didactic instruction," said Zhan Gong, PhD, a teacher at BISU who was one of the program's organizers and lecturers.

The experience was profoundly enlightening for the participants.

When arriving in Beijing, for example, Krasikova hadn't anticipated the level of modernization she would encounter in the country, showing rapid change since her visit in 2017.

"China has undergone remarkable changes. The public transportation is incredibly efficient. Whenever an issue arises, a simple call to 12345 brings assistance," she said. "While Moscow also boasts convenience in transportation, we lack a hotline of this nature. It's a significant distinction for me."

Kovács found himself astonished by China's ability to run efficiently despite its large population of over 1.4 billion — a sharp contrast to Hungary's 9.6 million.

"China operates with meticulous plans, such as the Five-Year Plan. Even more impressive is the consistent realization of these plans. Conveying these intricate planning methods to Europeans is quite challenging," he said.

Cultural exchange is a two-way street. It entails learning about one another's cultures and, in the process, rediscovering facets of your own. "Many of the visiting students were astounded by China's food delivery apps, allowing them to order and receive food often within 15 minutes," said Zhan. "This made us realize that we've grown so accustomed to this convenience that we scarcely notice it. Technology deserves credit."

Krasikova is already eagerly anticipating returning to China during the winter vacation. "I've forged friendships with many Chinese and international peers during my time in China. There are countless places in China that I'm eager to explore and study in — Hangzhou, Chongqing, Tianjin, and Hong Kong, just to name a few," she said.

Cultural exchange stands as a fundamental mission of BISU. "Our objective surpasses mere international exchanges or summer programs. We aspire that all our international friends can gain profound and comprehensive insights into China's modernization," Zhan concluded. "Meanwhile, we hope to learn from them too, approaching such projects with an open-minded perspective."

Source: CHINADAILY