To further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges among young people from China and abroad, strengthen ties with our overseas partner institutions, and enhance the brand of our international cultural exchange programs, the opening ceremony of the 2026 JUFE International Summer School, themed "Discover Jiangxi", was held on campus on the morning of July 6. Guided and supported by relevant higher-level authorities, this event is hosted by JUFE and has set a new record in scale. It has attracted over 230 young participants from China and 25 other countries, including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, Romania, and Vietnam, who will embark on a 12-day study tour together.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government, the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Jiangxi International Communication Center, the Nanchang People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, as well as delegates from overseas partner universities. Professor Yuan Honglin, Vice President of JUFE, delivered a welcome address on behalf of JUFE, extending warm greetings to the distinguished guests and student participants from around the globe. He emphasized that the International Summer School stands as a flagship program for cultural exchange at JUFE, serving not only as a vital platform for multicultural dialogue but also aligning closely with JUFE’s educational mission. Professor Yuan shared three aspirations for the participants: First, to be immersive explorers of Chinese culture, sharing authentic stories of China with vividness and depth; Second, to be active ambassadors for cultural exchange, fostering mutual learning and integration among diverse civilizations; Third, to be bridge-builders of transnational friendship, contributing youthful energy to global peace and development. To conclude, he wished the Summer School a complete success and hoped that all participants would have a fulfilling and enjoyable study tour.

Denis Diffo, the representative of international faculty, delivered a speech expressing his sincere gratitude to JUFE for its meticulous preparations and warm hospitality. He remarked that the International Summer School provides an excellent platform for transnational academic dialogue and the exchange of ideas, helping participants draw on diverse cultural perspectives to jointly explore solutions to global issues. He expressed his hope that all students would engage in in-depth communication, deepen their academic foundations, enhance mutual international trust through this study tour, and work together to contribute to sustainable global prosperity.

Following Mr. Diffo’s remarks, student representatives from both overseas and JUFE took to the stage. They shared their personal motivations for joining the program and voiced their high expectations for the upcoming 12-day academic and cultural journey.

At the climax of the opening ceremony, attending dignitaries and student representatives jointly activated the launch pedestal, officially inaugurating the 2026 International Summer School. This symbolic moment marked not only the commencement of a cultural journey across mountains and oceans but also embodied the mission of the younger generation to foster people-to-people bonds and promote mutual learning between civilizations.

The ceremony concluded with a spectacular Sino-International Cultural Gala. Performances included the Miao ethnic dance Shadow of Miao, a rousing international chorus of You Raise Me Up, the traditional Romanian folk dance Hora, and a captivating ensemble of traditional Chinese instruments. Blending Eastern and Western artistic elements with distinctive flair, the gala vividly brought to life the vision of “beauty in diversity and connectivity between civilizations.”

This International Summer School comprises five programs, structured around three main modules: frontier finance study tours, immersive experiences with Chinese intangible cultural heritage, and on-site humanities research in Jiangxi. The curriculum combines academic depth with cultural warmth.

Looking ahead, JUFE will continue to build high-quality platforms for people-to-people and cultural exchange, expand talent exchange channels with universities worldwide, and promote mutual learning among civilizations while supporting JUFE's high-quality development.