To further promote the development of international campus culture in our University, boost the engagement of international students in academic pursuits and cultural communication, and nurture a greater number of globally-minded graduate students familiar with Chinese culture, on March 13, 2024, the "The Tea-Horse Road: Explore Diverse Languages and Cultures in Southwest China" Cultural Bridge International Student Salon event was successfully held, hosted by the International Affairs Office of the Graduate School and co-organized by the International Student Center and the International Student Service Center. This event attracted more than 30 international students from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Ghana, Thailand, Iran, Peru, Kenya and other places around the world. The event was hosted by Wang Qian, the director of the the Graduate School's International Affairs Office.

Cheng Jinhua, the deputy dean of the Graduate School, delivered a welcome speech. He expressed that the cultural salon series aim to create a vibrant and colorful cultural exchange platform. He hopes that through this event, international graduate students can further understand Chinese traditional culture, expand their academic horizons, enhance cross-cultural communication and cultural communication skills, and integrate into China’s academic environment and social life as soon as possible.

This salon event invited Professor Dongjing Kang from the School of Media and Communication as the keynote speaker, with the theme of "The Tea-Horse Road: Explore Diverse Languages and Cultures in Southwest China". With her rich scientific research experience and unique perspective, her insights brought a unique cultural experience to the participating international students. Delving into the rich tapestry of ethnic languages and tea-drinking customs in southwestern China, she seamlessly intertwined the historical significance and development of the Tea Horse Road, painting a vibrant tableau of the New Era for the international audience.

Throughout the lectures, international students actively engaged in discussions, shared their viewpoints, and exchanged insights. This international student salon event not only facilitated a deeper understanding of the enduring Chinese culture but also fostered camaraderie among participants, fueling cultural exchanges and integration.

The successful holding of the "The Tea-Horse Road: Explore Diverse Languages and Cultures in Southwest China" Cultural Bridge International Student Salon not only enriched the cultural activities of our school's international students, but also established a pivotal platform for fostering communication and collaboration among them. We believe that in the future, the Graduate School will continue to launch more similar international exchange activities and make unremitting efforts to implement the goal of international education.