From April 19th to 20th, 41 international students from our university, representing 20 different countries, embarked on an innovative cultural experience journey to Keqiao District in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, under the theme of “Perceiving China.”Keqiao is one of China’s first batch of historical and cultural cities and also a demonstration zone for high-quality development and common prosperity in Zhejiang.
In 2024, our university began to jointly build the SUFE International Student Internship and Practice Base and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base with the Zhejiang (Shaoxing) High-End Foreign Talent Innovation Agglomeration Zone.
On the afternoon of April 19th, the international students arrived at the ancient town of Keqiao. The town, with its three bridges and four rivers interwoven, forms a unique landscape. Here, the students visited the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, where a variety of distinctive Chinese fans were displayed, along with demonstrations of the fan-making process, which attracted everyone to stop and admire. The blend of classical and modern elements in the town allowed the students to appreciate the charming scenery and profound cultural heritage of the Jiangnan water towns.
Subsequently, the international students proceeded to the Baoye Group for a visit. Under the guidance of a tour guide, they entered the group’s exhibition hall to learn about its development history and mission vision. Through physical displays, the students gained an intuitive understanding of the practical application of new technologies and new energy sources in architecture. For example, they personally experienced the soundproofing, heat insulation, and waterproofing effects of windows, as well as the earthquake resistance of houses, and deeply felt that innovation is the source and driving force of corporate development. Among these, the experience tour of the “Future Home” was particularly eye-catching. Features such as gesture-controlled curtains, intelligent and scientific kitchen operating systems, and the ability to check one’s health status and communicate with hospitals while lying in bed all provided the students with a refreshing experience.
On the morning of April 20th, the international students arrived at the Zhejiang (Shaoxing) High-End Foreign Talent Innovation Agglomeration Zone. The overall planning of the agglomeration zone integrates the charm of Western towns with the unique elements of Chinese Jiangnan water towns. In the multi-functional exhibition hall, with the help of advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), the students gained a comprehensive understanding of the development process, industrial layout, and future plans of the agglomeration zone. The exhibition content covered China’s policy support for attracting high-end foreign talents and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as examples of high-end talents from various countries leveraging their expertise and realizing their dreams here. It demonstrated the positive trend of the convergence and joint development of Chinese and foreign talents.
In the agglomeration zone, the international students also visited the Keyn Guy Laboratory to learn about integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and digital low-carbon technologies. They delved into Shaoxing Amami Sum Technology Co., Ltd. to explore the science and innovation behind drone development and manufacturing.
Additionally, the agglomeration zone organized a symposium for talent exchange among Chinese and international individuals. Researchers, entrepreneurs, and international students from various countries gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on innovation and entrepreneurship. They shared insights into the innovation cultures and technological trends of their respective countries and explored how to leverage both international and domestic resources to achieve greater breakthroughs on the path of innovation and entrepreneurship.
This visit to Keqiao allowed the international students to truly experience how innovation is deeply integrated into all aspects of corporate development. They witnessed the driving force that innovation brings to enterprises, experienced the practical application strength of innovative outcomes, and had the seeds of innovation planted in their hearts. Gao Haiyang from Uzbekistan, after visiting the Baoye Group, said, “With such excellent eco-friendly building materials and advanced construction technologies, I am eager to collaborate with them and introduce these new technologies and materials to my country. I want to contribute to building high-quality housing for the people of my nation.” Liu Jianwen from Pakistan remarked, “These past two days of visiting the creative park have shown me the power of innovation. It has inspired me to cultivate an innovative mindset in my academic research and produce more outstanding papers.”
SUFE has always adhered to an open and inclusive educational philosophy, placing great emphasis on the comprehensive development of international students. We have integrated national conditions education, experiences of perceiving China, and the cultivation of innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities into the key components of our talent development system. This Keqiao activity, focusing on contemporary China’s economic and social development, aims to guide international students to gain insights into China’s active exploration and remarkable achievements in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, familiarize themselves with the relevant policy environment, stimulate innovative thinking and enthusiasm for starting businesses in China, strengthen their recognition and understanding of China’s development path, and thereby deepen Sino-foreign friendly relations. Ultimately, we hope to contribute youthful energy to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
