Performances set the tone for the opening ceremony. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
Xiamen University (XMU) kicked off its 2026 Global Youth Cultural Exchange Summer Camp on June 29, bringing together 110 students from 26 countries and 39 educational institutions in China and abroad for a 10-day program of cultural exchange and learning.
At the opening ceremony, Sun Li, deputy Party secretary of XMU, encouraged the campers to broaden their horizons through travel, build understanding through dialogue, and forge friendships through cultural exchange.
Lu Boning, a representative of the teaching faculty, introduced the camp's program, which includes campus study tours, cultural visits, science and technology activities, and experiences featuring intangible cultural heritage. She encouraged the campers to speak freely and try new things without worrying about language barriers. The teaching team would support them throughout the program, she said.
Angela Forbes of Stellenbosch University in South Africa and Tang Yuhang of Nanjing University, speaking on behalf of international and Chinese campers, said their shared curiosity about the world and desire to understand one another had brought them together despite differences in language and culture.
They said they looked forward to sharing their experiences and aspirations with peers from different countries and building lasting friendships through dialogue and collaboration during the camp.
