On 21 April, the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd SUFE International Culture Festival and the International Food Carnival was held on the Guoding Road Campus. Under the theme "Boundless Digital Intelligence, Youth in Action", the festival continued its guiding philosophy of "bringing together diverse cultures and building a harmonious international campus", while innovatively incorporating digital and smart elements. Through a variety of formats, the event promoted mutual learning among civilisations and provided an international platform for harmonious exchange between Chinese and international students.
Attending the event were Party Secretary Xu Tao, Vice Presidents Yao Lingzhen, He Pengcheng, Li Zengquan, Liu Liya, Liu Qingsheng, and Zhou Guoliang; Assistant to the President and Director of Academic Affairs Xia Jijun; members of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Chu Hua (Head of the United Front Work Department) and Yang Le (Head of the Organisation Department); as well as heads of relevant administrative departments, schools and institutes, and Chinese and international faculty and students.
At the opening ceremony, Zhao Wenqian, Executive President of the Student Union of Internation Cultural Exchange School (ICES), and Morishita Hideyo, President of the International Student Union, delivered speeches on behalf of Chinese and international students respectively, and gave an overview of this year's International Culture Festival. The International Student Dance Troupe performed an energetic dance, their lively moves showcasing the youthful vitality of students from around the world and igniting the atmosphere. The Robotics Club presented a Tai Chi performance by robots, where the deep integration of traditional culture and modern technology drew rounds of applause from the audience. Chinese and international students then sang the classic song We Are the World together; with its melodious melody, young people from different nations built a bridge through music, conveying a cross‑border resonance and a shared hope for youth in action.
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Vice President Yao Lingzhen delivered a speech and declared the International Culture Festival open. Reflecting the festival's theme, she encouraged SUFE's Chinese and international students to stand at the forefront of the digital intelligence wave, using technology as wings and culture as soul, and to act as storytellers of China and guides for mutual learning among civilisations in the practice of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
At the International Food Carnival, nearly 40 distinctive food stalls created a "world on the tip of the tongue". Delicacies such as Malaysian nasi lemak, Bulgarian cheese bread, Brazilian barbecue, and Russian blinis complemented each other, showcasing the contemporary imprint of mutual learning among civilisations under the theme "Boundless Digital Intelligence, Youth in Action". Meanwhile, students from various countries brought each other closer through immersive interactions including traditional costume displays, cultural games, and live cooking demonstrations.
Katerina Stelianova Bozhilova (Bulgaria), a master's student in Regional Economics, said: "We specially prepared the Bulgarian specialty cheese bread. This dish not only showcases Bulgaria's unique Balkan culinary culture but also carries the deep friendship between the people of Bulgaria and China. I sincerely hope that through the platform of the International Culture Festival, we can open more windows for exchange and dialogue between young people from Bulgaria and China."
Vasilii Rumiantsev (Russia), a undergraduate in Business Administration, dressed in traditional costume, presented blinis to participants while explaining his country's traditional food culture and history: "Blini are not only an important element of our culture, but also a symbol of mutual learning between Chinese and Russian civilisations. Recreating a taste of home here at SUFE is a vivid illustration of multicultural coexistence."
This year's International Food Carnival featured a special Cultural Performance segment, in which digital intelligence technology was deeply integrated with diverse cultural presentations. Shanghai Qingbao Robot, an alumni enterprise, brought a highly technological smart robot performance; the robots gracefully performed traditional Chinese dances such as Flying Apsaras of Dunhuang and Ascending the Spring Hill, showcasing traditional Chinese culture through modern technology. In addition, international students from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Malaysia, Laos, Turkmenistan and other countries presented their own distinctive cultural performances, demonstrating folk customs and artistic charms from around the world. Technology and tradition complemented each other; Chinese and foreign cultures blossomed together – together forming the splendid performance chapter of this year's International Culture Festival.
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Minh Anh Vu (Vietnam), a undergraduate in Finance, said: "As a first‑year student who has just arrived in China, this is my first time attending the university's International Culture Festival. The rich technological elements on site truly caught my eye – the robot dance and Tai Chi were particularly interesting. They made me deeply feel the charm of technological development."
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Coinciding with the International Chinese Language Day, this year's International Food Carnival also set up a special Chinese Culture and Cuisine Experience Zone, where various activities became an excellent window for international students to learn Chinese and experience Chinese culture. This year's China stall focused on Chinese characters, offering calligraphy experiences and oracle bone script recognition activities, allowing international students to intuitively appreciate the evolution and unique charm of Chinese characters through hands‑on practice and fun interactions. In a relaxed setting, they could approach the Chinese language and understand the cultural connotations behind it. Cai Ruiyin, Executive President of the Postgraduate Student Union of ICES, remarked: "The Chinese Cuisine and Culture Experience Zone is an important window for us to spread the best of traditional Chinese culture to international students and to tell China's story well. Through food experiences and traditional folk interactions, we vividly present the delicate artistry and humanistic depth of Chinese culture. On site, I also saw that the School of Finance's stall brought a highly distinctive oracle bone script recognition game, allowing international students to experience the evolution of Chinese characters and the beauty of writing through a fun game – helping them approach and understand traditional Chinese culture."
Agrippine Pascaline Makomi (Cameroon), a undergraduate in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages, exclaimed: "I took part in fun activities such as lantern riddles and calligraphy. My Chinese schoolmates helped me understand the meaning of 'one character, one joy; culture and fun blend together'. Simple traditional games contain the subtlety of Chinese characters and the wisdom of Chinese thinking, allowing me to truly experience the unique charm of Chinese culture while having fun."
During this year's International Food Carnival, Tallinn Day 2026 was held simultaneously. On‑site fun quiz games allowed students to learn about the cultural features and traditions of Estonia.
SUFE has always been committed to promoting integration between Chinese and international students, building bridges of exchange through diverse activities, and injecting youth power into the effort to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Ma Yue (Iraq), a undergraduate in International Economics and Trade, said: "Since coming to China to study and live, I have truly felt the warmth and inclusiveness of this country, and have deeply fallen in love with its rich traditional culture. As an international student in China, I have immersed myself in the life and culture here – every detail touches my heart. I am also willing to share my genuine feelings about China with those around me, and in the simplest way help different civilisations understand each other and draw closer."
Manasa Rakuita Vakalalabur (Fiji), a master's student in Public Administration, shared: "This SUFE International Food Carnival has given me a real taste of the beauty of civilisational. I am both enchanted by the delicacy and depth of Eastern culture and proud to present the uniqueness and vitality of Fijian culture. I hope that more friends will remember the warmth of Fijian culture and pass on this wonderful experience."
