On the morning of Aug 9, the 2024 Shanghai Summer School - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summer School program farewell ceremony was successful held. 40 international students from 34 universities in six countries spent a fulfilling and meaningful month together at East China Normal University.

At the farewell ceremony, representatives from each country took the stage to share their harvests and insights from the past four weeks in Shanghai. Anna from Belarus expressed that her learning experience at East China Normal University was not just a learning journey but more like an energetic and enjoyable adventure, and she would continue to learn this beautiful language. Jasmina from Uzbekistan expressed her love for China and her desire to learn Chinese well. Ruslan from Russia even composed a Russian poem to express his deep affection for this place and his four weeks of learning and life here.

Subsequently, Professor Bei Wenli, Director of the Belarus Research Center and Deputy Director of the Russia Research Center at East China Normal University, awarded program completing certificates to all participants. 

Wang Gang, Deputy Director of the Global Education Center, presented honorary certificates to the winners of the "My Perspective on the SCO" speech contest. The Chinese language teachers of the program awarded honorary certificates to the winners of the T-shirt design contest. Finally, the program volunteer team presented a song titled "Goodbye," and the farewell ceremony concluded warmly with cheers, tears, and hugs from the students.

The program content is rich and diverse, aiming to provide international students with an immersive experience of the charm of Chinese culture and the unique atmosphere of Shanghai, the "magic city". During the program, students not only took Chinese courses but also participated in walking classrooms and listened to lectures on themes such as Shanghai culture, the SCO, and China's development. 

Additionally, they experienced traditional Chinese cultural activities such as making dough figurines, creating candy paintings, practicing Bagua Zhang (a traditional Chinese martial art), and engaging in Chinese calligraphy and painting, fully appreciating the profound heritage of Chinese culture.

Apart from cultural studies, students also conducted cultural investigations in Shanghai and Suzhou, participated in T-shirt design contests, speech contests, National Day celebrations, "A Day as a Shanghai Resident" experiential activities, and social events with the Shanghai Russian Language Enthusiasts Club.

These activities not only enriched their extracurricular life but also provided opportunities to meet more friends and deepen their understanding and knowledge of China.

The successful hosting of this program was inseparable from the strong support of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. The program not only provided international students with a window to understand Chinese culture and society but also built a platform for them to exchange and cooperate. It is believed that in the future, the students will continue to contribute their own efforts to promoting friendly cooperation and international exchange.