On June 9, the 4th "Dance of Rivers——Youth, Partnership, Future" Sino-American Youth Campus Cultural Exchange took place at our university's auditorium. The event featured a cross-border dance extravaganza with American Utah Youth Dance Troupe, where students from both countries collaborated to present a cultural feast blending diverse artistic expressions.
The event was jointly organized by the Zhenjiang Municipal Overseas Chinese Federation, the United Front Work Department of the University's Party Committee, the Propaganda Department, the Talent Development Office, the Youth League Committee, the International Cooperation and Exchange Office, the Alumni Association and External Liaison Office, along with the Overseas Education College, School of Arts, School of Agricultural Engineering, and School of Literature. Attendees included Li Hongbo (Party Secretary), Zhang Jijian (Deputy Party Secretary), Wang Yongxin (Chairperson of Zhenjiang Municipal Overseas Chinese Federation), Wu Linlin (University Party Standing Committee Member, Propaganda Department Director, and United Front Work Department Head), Lu Zhangping (President of Pearl S. Buck Research Association, former Chair of Zhenjiang Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, and former University Library Director), Dong Rongcan (President of China-US Cultural Exchange Association), Yan Jun (Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Director of Zhenjiang Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau), Hu Jian (Third-Level Researcher at Municipal United Front Work Department), Liu Wenqin (Deputy Director of Municipal Foreign Affairs Office), and Li Lin (Director of the International Communication Division at Municipal Publicity Department).
The event kicked off with the vibrant jazz dance "Spectrum" by the Utah Youth Dance Troupe. Diverse performances including the samba "Sway, Cenora", hip-hop "Slow Down" and "Enjoy It", Latin dance "Turn Up the Volume", and modern dance "The Beautiful Side" showcased the rich and creative American dance culture. Professor Dong Rongcan's team presented their original dance "Falling of Emotions", adapted from Pearl S. Buck's story in the drama series created by the School of Arts, highlighting the profound historical ties between Chinese and American cultural exchanges.
During the event, teenagers from China and the United States used dance as a medium to promote cultural integration. The street dance troupe's performance "HIPHOP SHOWCASE" showcased the vibrant energy of contemporary college students, while the ethnic dance medley "Tianshan Rendezvous" by the Red Pomegranate Club depicted the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures, where each ethnic group beautifully presents its own unique charm.
This is the fourth time that Utah Youth Dance Troupe has visited our school. This youth meeting across the Pacific is to implement the proposal made by President Xi Jinping during his visit to the United States in 2023 that he would invite 50,000 American teenagers to study and exchange in China in the next five years.
The event was attended by over 1,000 participants, including officials from the Zhenjiang Committee of the China Democratic League, Zhenjiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Zhenjiang Association of Returned Scholars' Relatives, Zhenjiang Musicians Association, Zhenjiang Dancers Association, Zhenjiang Federation of New Cultural and Artistic Groups, and the Youth Committee of Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation. Attendees also included representatives from relevant school departments, college leadership, returned overseas Chinese families, and faculty-student groups.
The university has always adhered to open education as a key approach to serving national strategies and broadening development horizons, achieving remarkable results in international student education and Sino-foreign cultural exchanges. As one of the first 27 universities in China to receive quality certification for international student education, the university actively participates in the Belt and Road Education Initiative. It has organized activities such as the Ministry of Education's "Smart Agricultural Machinery and Rural Revitalization" cultural experience tour, co-established international talent innovation practice bases with over 100 enterprises, cultivated and delivered more than 6,500 high-quality talents for countries along the Belt and Road, and actively promoted youth exchanges between China and other countries. The university has also created brand events like the "Cross-Cultural Garden Exchange" and "International Cultural Festival".
