Beijing International Studies University (BISU) held a symposium and training session recently to prepare student volunteers for the Asian Winter Games held in Harbin from Feb 7 to 14.   

Twenty-four multilingual volunteers from the School of Asian Studies, the School of Middle Eastern Studies, and the School of Chinese Culture and Communication gathered for a send-off ceremony, accompanied by university leaders and teachers. The ceremony officially kicked off BISU's volunteer journey to support the 9th Harbin Asian Winter Games. 

As the only institution in Beijing that sends volunteers to the event, BISU actively responds to the national call, fully leveraging its volunteer service experience in major occasions such as the Winter Olympics and Asian Games.

During the symposium, Ji Jinbiao, deputy secretary of the CPC BISU Committee and president of the university, congratulated the selected students, urging them to demonstrate their professional competence and teamwork, overcome challenges and strive for true accomplishments and lasting contributions.

Ji Jinbiao encourages the volunteers to make lasting contributions during the Asian Winter Games.

In response to Ji's instructions, Lin Tao, representing all volunteers, made a declaration, expressing their commitment to leverage the university's advantage and strive to bring glory to the motherland and add luster to the Asian Winter Games.

Volunteer representative Lin Tao expresses her commitment to the Asian Winter Games.

At the ceremony, Zhang Yan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BISU Committee and vice-president of the university, handed over the flag symbolizing the spirit of BISU volunteers to the student team leader, encouraging the volunteers to embark on a journey of honor guided by the flag.

Zhang Yan hands over the flag to the student team leader. 

BISU teachers gifted volunteers with packages containing notebooks and school badges, aiming to spark vibrant memories and inject the event with their youthful energy through their enthusiastic service. Two training sessions were conducted during the symposium.

Yu Jinyan, vice president of BISU's China Academy of Belt and Road Initiative, led the volunteers on a virtual journey through the Belt and Road Initiative, while Wang Juan, director of the university's Psychological Health Education and Counseling Center, taught volunteers how to stay positive and to dispel stress and gloom.

Ding Yi, a guiding teacher from the Beijing International Volunteer Service Base and deputy secretary of the Communist Youth League of BISU, focused on reporting the preparations of the Asian Winter Games volunteer work organization. This helped the volunteers better understand their roles and responsibilities, allowing them to effectively apply their professional knowledge to practical work.

Zhang Mengli, a graduate student from the School of Asian Studies expressed, "I feel the care and encouragement from the university. The flag carrying the spirit of volunteering fills us with warmth and strength in the cold winter. Despite the cold weather in Harbin, this care and support strengthen our beliefs and encourage us to move forward bravely."

"I am full of expectations to be a volunteer at the Asian Winter Games. This will definitely be a special and meaningful experience for me. Being able to participate in a large sports event, serving athletes, guiding spectators, and personally experiencing the organization and operation of a major event is an invaluable learning opportunity for me. Working together for the successful hosting of the Asian Winter Games, we can also make many like-minded friends, which will be an unforgettable experience for me," said an international student volunteer from the School of Chinese Culture and Communication in authentic Chinese.