First International Culture Week & Grenada Day of Ningbo Academy of Engineering

The first International Culture Week of Ningbo Academy of Engineering was inaugurated on October 25th, celebrating global cultures with the theme “Ninggong Hi World Youth Building the Future.” Over 200 teachers and students from 20 countries participated in the event, which includes activities such as “Youth Movement: Symphony of the World” and “A Youth Symphony: A World Echo.” The week features 4 major sections and 14 activities, encouraging Chinese and foreign students to collaborate and embrace the beauty of diverse civilizations, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry.

His Excellency Ian Marshall, Ambassador of Grenada to China, and Dr. Zhao Yongchen, former Ambassador of China to Grenada, Bao Shunping, Director of Ningbo Foreign Affairs Office, Chen Jinhui, Deputy Director of the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Education, Shen Yong, Vice President of Ningbo Vocational and Technical University, the Foreign Ministry’s Association for Philatelic Collectors, the Latin American Development and Strategy Research Office of the Latin American Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Latin America and Caribbean Institute of the China Institute of International Studies, the heads of the Caribbean Regional Research Center of Hangzhou Normal University, the Latin American and Caribbean Research Center of Southwestern University of Science and Technology, the municipal urban operations center of Yantai, and other units, welcomed Grenada to Ningbo to train in welding technology. Shao Qianjun, president of our university, and Chen Zhirong, vice president, attended the opening ceremony. Relevant heads of the school’s International Service and the Grenada Research Centre, as well as representatives of teachers and students, attended. The opening ceremony was presided over by Chen Zhirong.

Shao Qianjun pointed out in his opening remarks that Ningbo Engineering College actively responded to the national strategy, fully implemented the Party’s educational policy and education opening policy, promoted high-quality education opening in the new era, and has established inter-university cooperation relationships with more than 130 institutions in more than 30 countries and regions. The Confucius Institute, jointly established by the school with the Mary Sue Community University of Grenada, is an important window for the people of Grenada to learn Chinese and understand China, and is also a friendly envoy for the heart-to-heart ties between the Chinese and Grenadian people. The school established the Grenada Research Center, hoping to promote the development of China-Grenada people-to-people exchanges by building a high-end platform that integrates academic research, talent development, and cultural mutual learning. He expected the participants to enhance understanding in sincere dialogue and to clash ideas in in-depth exchange. To build a broader and more solid bridge of mutual learning among civilizations, and to make the International Cultural Week a more influential brand of cultural exchanges through joint efforts, and to contribute to the promotion of mutual learning among civilizations.

His Excellency Marshall said that the 20 years of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada have been two decades of shared prosperity, deep understanding, and firm cooperation, which is a vivid illustration of the two countries’ shared spirit despite their differences in size. He noted that educational cooperation is the key to a long-lasting friendship and that the appointment of Prime Minister His Excellency Dean Mitchell and himself as honorary professors at the Ningbo School of Engineering symbolizes their firm commitment to jointly promote educational exchanges. The Confucius Institute at T. A. Marryshow Community College, jointly established by China and Grenada, is a witness to the friendship between the two governments and peoples, and the Grenada Research Center at the Ningbo School of Engineering is a bridge to connect ideas, culture, and nurture future leaders. He expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to consolidate the ties of friendship and explore new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism, renewable energy sources, and science and technology, so as to promote the advancement of human civilization.

Bao Shunping said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada. In recent years, Ningbo and Grenada have had frequent exchanges and deep friendship, and the results of practical cooperation between the two sides have been significant. This year, Ningbo signed an agreement with the diocese of St. Patrick in the country to further deepen friendly exchanges and conducted a series of arts and crafts performances for the “Happy Spring Festival.” In the field of education, the Confucius Classroom run by the Ningbo Academy of Engineering in cooperation with the German side has been successfully upgraded to the Confucius Academy. In terms of human resources training, since Ningbo Vocational and Technical College hosted China’s first overseas assistance technical class in 2017, the two sides have continuously carried out talent training in fields such as auto mechanics and hospitality management, cultivating a large number of professional talents for the local community. She hopes that in the future, the two sides can continue to leverage each other’s strengths, expand channels of exchange and cooperation, explore cooperation in tourism and sports, and push the friendship between the two regions to a new level.

The keynote speech was divided into two chapters of theoretical research and practical discussion, and eight experts and scholars such as Zhao Yongchen delivered brilliant speeches focused on the theme.

Zhao Yongxiang combed through the historical evolution of China-Grenada relations and the foundation of political mutual trust and presented the two sides’ initiatives in economic development cooperation and mutual benefit practices. He noted that the CEE was a model for the development of friendly relations between countries large and small and between countries with different political systems. He believed that under the guidance of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China’s friendly relations with Grenada would go further, and hoped that the Ningbo School of Engineering would achieve new achievements in international cooperation in technology, education, humanities, and other fields.

His Excellency Ian Marshall reviewed an impressive number of important points in the 20 years since China and Grenada resumed diplomatic relations. He said that over the past 20 years, the partnership between China and Grenada had led to many cooperation projects that benefited the people of Grenada. Facing challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and global economic instability, the two sides need to jointly address them through solidarity and coordination, scientific and technological innovation, and policy coordination, and continuously push bilateral relations to a new level in mutual assistance.

Zhou Min, Director of the Centre for Caribbean Studies at Hangzhou Normal University, introduced the academic progress of the Centre, emphasizing the role of watersheds in the body of knowledge and cultural awareness. Wang Peng, director of the Latin American Development and Strategy Research Unit of the Latin America Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, reviewed the cooperation achievements of China and Grenada over the past 20 years, noting that development cooperation is the foundation of China-Grenada cooperation. Song Junying, Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Institute of the Chinese Academy of International Studies, spoke of political mutual trust and strategic collaboration. Economic complementarity and mutually beneficial cooperation, global governance and synergy, public opinion base, and people-to-people exchanges elaborated thoughts on developing China-Caribbean relations, and proposed exchanges and cooperation to promote Chinese modernization and Caribbean modernization.

Shen Yong, Vice President of Ningbo Vocational and Technical University, shared the practice of educational cooperation between the university and the Latin American and Caribbean region, mainly Grenada, in four dimensions: policy mutual building and institutional construction, capacity improvement and talent supply, technological empowerment and industrial center, cultural mutual appreciation and emotional co-promotion. Zhang Jian, Comprehensive Section of the Urban Operations Center of the Yantai Municipal Government, presented the experience and practices of Yantai City in related work under the title of “Working together with the islands to create a zero-carbon future.” Li Renfang, Deputy Director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Southwestern University of Science and Technology, analyzed the geopolitical pressures facing Grenada and explored new paths for China-Grenada development cooperation research.

At the scene, the commemorative seal for the 20th anniversary of the resumption of Sino-Grenadian relations was officially released. Ma Xiaoling, former Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry’s Association of Philatelic Collectors, introduced the ingenious design of the commemorative seal, saying that the Grenada Embassy in China used the commemorative seal to remember this historic moment and honor the deep friendship between the two countries, which has enjoyed mutual respect and common development over the past 20 years.
Ambassador Ian Marshall and Bao Shunping jointly unveiled the memorial seal.

Ma Yan and Chen Jinhui jointly put the first commemorative stamp on the commemorative cover.

Ambassador Marshall presented the school with a commemorative frame and 20 commemorative envelopes specially made by the Grenada Embassy.

In the afternoon, an exhibition of Chinese and foreign cultures took place in Fenghua Square, and guests, teachers, and students watched the exhibition of the ten-year results of the Confucius Institute. They experienced the unique products of Grenada and traditional Chinese non-heritage crafts, and also set up a gala exhibition featuring Chinese and foreign youth, allowing Chinese and international students and teachers to immerse themselves in the culture and people of different countries in China and Grenada.

This international cultural week will last until October 31, during which thematic activities such as cultural style exhibitions, music free runs, community gatherings, flash games for Chinese and foreign students, cross-cultural sharing, Ningbo cultural experience activities, Chinese and overseas film exhibitions, and an international food week on the tongue will be carried out in turn. Diverse events allow different countries, peoples, and cultures to meet here and are bound together by passion, openness, understanding, and inclusion.