CUPB successfully held the 9th International Cultural Festival, themed “Hearts Reflect, Futures Power” at the South Square of the North Campus. The event coincided with the third anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s reply letter to CUPB students from Central Asian countries. The festival brought together diplomats, representatives from domestic and international universities and enterprises, faculty, and students for a grand celebration of global cultural exchange. The festival featured five major segments: an opening ceremony, a multicultural parade, song and dance performances, an international culture expo, and a food carnival. CUPB Vice President Zhang Guangqing, along with responsible person from the International Office and the College of International Education, attended the event.

During the opening ceremony, CUPB Vice President Zhang Guangqing, responsible person from the International Office, BAYRAMMYRAT ATAMANOV, President of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University in Turkmenistan, as well as diplomatic envoys and distinguished guests from various countries, jointly launched the festival. Following the launch, international students from around the world performed a medley of Chinese songs. From cross-border friendships spanning mountains and seas to warm mutual support akin to kinship, and the profound sentiment of dedicating oneself to the energy industry, the performance vividly interpreted the inclusive spirit of “Hearts Reflect” and the mission of “Futures Power” bringing the opening ceremony to a climax.

A highlight of this year’s festival was a multicultural parade featuring over 60 Chinese and international students dressed in traditional attire. Circling the Fountain Square, the students carried placards reading slogans such as “Know China, Befriend China, Love China” “People-to-People Bond, Heart-to-Heart Connection,” and “New Voices of the Silk Road, Writing a Glorious Chapter Together.” They interacted enthusiastically with the audience with the rhythm of the music.

The stage came alive with vibrant song and dance performances from around the globe. International students and students from the Nine Zhou WuShu Club presented a martial arts display blending the softness of Tai Chi with the sharpness of fan techniques. Retired teachers demonstrated Tai Chi, showcasing the beauty of traditional Chinese martial arts to the audience. International students from more than 20 countries—including Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Guyana, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Russia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and El Salvador—delivered diverse programs featuring instruments, songs, and dances. These performances painted a vivid picture of civilizational exchange and mutual learning, highlighting the unique charm of global cultures.

There were over 40 booths around the South Square. A commemorative “passport stamping” activity invited participants on a “global cultural check-in” journey. International students acted as cultural ambassadors, passionately introducing their home countries through interactive sessions such as traditional dance tutorials, ethnic instrument trials, costume experiences, handicraft workshops, and local cuisine tastings, creating an immersive, multi-dimensional space for cultural exchange. Meanwhile, the Chinese booth offered activities including pitch-pot (Touhu), Hanfu try-ons, paper-cutting, lacquer fan making, and tea art sharing, building a broad platform for mutual learning and friendship between Chinese and international youth.

Over the past three years, CUPB has thoroughly implemented the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping’s important reply letter, promoting the high-quality development of international education. As a flagship event for the university's internationalization efforts, the International Cultural Festival has been successfully held nine times. This edition showcased CUPB’s achievements in cultivating globally competent talent and fostering people-to-people diplomacy. Moving forward, the university will continue to use the festival as a vehicle to build platforms for multicultural integration, enabling Chinese and international youth to write a vivid chapter of connectivity through mutual learning among civilizations.