From August 7 to 18, a group of more than 50 students from 28 countries were immersed in Chinese culture while discovering the rapid development of China through the first-ever Summer Program on "An Overview of Modern China and City Development" (2023), co-hosted by Beijing International Studies University and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality.

Tanzanian participant Mpuya Adeline Nkwimba was astonished by the efficiency of Beijing citizens' hotline 12345. She emphasized that the speed and efficiency of dealing with citizen queries and complaints were extraordinary. "This service ensures that everyone's needs are heard and addressed swiftly, which I think is very impressive," she said.

International participants conduct field research in Beijing.

The participants visited various corners of Beijing, ranging from the historic Forbidden City to the modern Olympic venues in Yanqing, gaining a deeper understanding of how Beijing balances modernity with its rich cultural history. Yuka Nishimori, a 24-year-old Japanese student, said her experience surpassed what she had learnt through social media and news about Beijing.

Herrera Tapia Nancy, a Mexican doctoral student at Metropolitan Autonomous University, said she was touched by China’s fast-paced development and how technology impacts daily life. "The advent of e-commerce platforms has significantly improved the convenience of everyday life," she said. 

Zanele Abigail Fakude, director of the Gauteng Growth and Development Afency of South Africa, said that she listened to the introduction of the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on the development of bilateral relations between China and South Africa, and especially mentioned the BRICS Summit in South Africa. "It was the 15th meeting of the leaders. I was very excited and look forward to further cooperation between South Africa and China," she said.

International participants conduct field research in Beijing.

Kovacs Laszlo Erik, a secretary from the University of Debrecen Confucius Institute in Hungary, shared his daily routine of the summer program on his WeChat moments every day. He said that he would share his daily experience with friends in Hungary and China.

Erik was very happy to have had the opportunity to participate in this cultural exchange activity to better understand China. "This is my first time in China, and I am very happy to be in Beijing. My field of expertise includes cultural exchanges, so I have a strong interest in all exchange opportunities. By participating in this event, I learned how urban development can promote the Chinese path to modernization."

"The course may be ending, but for me, it's a new beginning," said Mavzuna Mukhiddinova, a fluent Mandarin speaker from Russia, and currently a doctoral student in China. "Young people should have dreams, and my dream is to be a youth ambassador promoting China's unique cultural charm."

The course touched the minds and hearts of international participants, equipping them with not only academic information but also personal experiences that they plan to share in their respective countries. The summer program stood as a testament to China's cultural allure and its ability to blend the ancient and the modern in its rapid journey towards the future.