The 2026 Guizhou University International Culture Festival opened on May 11 at Xishan Theater on the university's West Campus, bringing together university leaders, distinguished guests, faculty members and students to celebrate cultural diversity and promote international exchange.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of Guizhou Province,Association for Student Employment of China, China Center for People-to-People Exchange, the Guizhou Education Association for International Exchanges, and local universities, including GZU and Guiyang Kangyang University.
In his opening remarks, Wang Jinrong, Vice President of Guizhou University (GZU), praised GZU students for their role in fostering international understanding and building connections across cultures. He encouraged them to make the most of the festival by embracing different perspectives, building friendships and learning from one another. He also urged them to broaden their horizons through dialogue, strengthen cooperation through mutual understanding, and contribute the energy and creativity of young people to promoting mutual learning among civilizations and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Chen Niaoniao,Vice President of Guiyang Kangyang University highlighted the festival's role in bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds and fostering mutual understanding. She said the event reflected GZU's commitment, as a leading university in Guizhou, to internationalizing higher education and strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. She also expressed her hope for closer, more practical cooperation between GZU and universities in China and abroad, particularly in advancing the vision of a global community of health for all and a community with a shared future for humanity.
The opening ceremony also marked two milestones in international cooperation. Wang Jinrong and former Director of China Center for People-to-People Exchange Yang Xiaochun, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in international employment services between Association For Student Employment of China, and GZU. Meanwhile, Zhou Bin, Director of GZU's Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, and Hu Yun,Director of the Guizhou Education Association for International Exchanges, unveiled a plaque for the GZU–Guizhou Association for International Cultural Exchanges Internship Base.
Hao Gefei, a professor recognized under China's national talent programs, Filip Jordan, representing GZU's international faculty, and Li Bai (AL AKHALI ADHAM HUSSEIN ABDULLAH FAREA), representing the international student community, each delivered remarks. Students from the College of International Education and the College of Music presented a series of artistic performances featuring diverse cultural traditions, including music and dance. University leaders and distinguished guests then jointly activated the launch mechanism, officially marking the opening of the 2026 Guizhou University International Culture Festival.
The ceremony also featured an awards presentation for the winners of the Discover Guizhou: International Faculty and Students Explore Guizhou Short Video Competition.
Running from May 11 to 15 under the theme "Connecting Five Continents, Empowering GZU, Creating the Future," this year's festival brings together seven partner universities across Guizhou Province. A diverse program of activities has been carefully designed, including the Discover Guizhou: International Faculty and Students Explore Guizhou Short Video Competition, presentations showcasing the achievements of outstanding GZU international alumni, an International Food Carnival, immersive Chinese and international cultural experiences, an international education exhibition, and presentations on study tours and academic exchanges.
Together, these activities are designed to offer faculty and students opportunities to experience diverse cultures and enjoy a vibrant celebration of campus life.
Editors: Pang Aizhong, Chen Fang
Chief Editor: Li Xufeng
Senior Editor: Yao Zuozhou
Translator: Nie Xiaoxia
