On May 13th, the 7th SMU International Culture Festival was grandly held. Over 200 international students from more than 30 countries studying in our university participated in this traditional event. Li Weimin, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai overseas returned scholars association, Li Yashan, director of overseas Chinese affairs, united front work department of Pudong district, Prof. Jin Yongxing, Chairman of the university council, Prof. Huang Youfang, President of SMU, and the head of International Education College, International Office, and other departments attended to this activity.
Prof. Jin Yongxing, Chairman of the university council, firstly gave an ebullient speech and highly welcomed the participation of the international students and teaching faculty. Prof. Jin expressed that the international education had improved a lot these years, more and more international students apply to SMU for academic and Chinese language study. He said that the annual SMU International Culture Festival had become a traditional pageant, and a part of soft environment of international education in SMU.
Li Weimin, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai overseas returned scholars association, expressed that this cultural festival is with so much diplomatic significance, and also hoped that after their graduation, what they have experienced at SMU can do favor to the development of Shanghai.
Themed as ‘show traditional costume to the world’, the festival fell into two parts: exhibition of various traditional costumes and international students’ talent show. On various exhibition stands of different countries, the international students presented their ethnic costumes and cultural traditions with ethnic ornaments, special cuisines, and craft goods. Afterwards, the talent show was colorful with songs, dances, dramas performed by international students, arousing bursts of applause and cheers from the audience.
