Around 20,000 people participated in the activities celebrating the 16th World Cultural Festival of Beijing Language and Culture University(BLCU) on May 19 at its campus in Haidian district, Beijing.

The opening ceremony of the 16th World Cultural Festival of Beijing Language and Culture University is held on May 19 at the campus in Haidian district, Beijing. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

"This festival has indeed provided a platform for BLCU's students from China and abroad to understand and communicate with each other", said Huang Yifang, vice-president of BLCU.

Thirteen countries' ambassadors to China attended the festival's opening ceremony and enjoyed performance presented by BLCU's students from China and overseas.

"BLCU organizes it [the World Cultural Festival] every year and this is very important," said Ahcene Boukhelfa, Algerian ambassador to China, adding that the festival can help more people to better know his country.

Ahcene Boukhelfa (R 2nd), Algerian ambassador to China attends the festival's opening ceremony. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 90 countries' students from BLCU set up booths to present their countries through costumes, paintings, music, dance, food and drinks, and to help celebrate the annual big event of the university, said Yang Tianqiao, the main organizer of the festival's activities who has taken part in the event for 16 years since its beginning.

The festival's size is expected to increase to accommodate more than 100 booths in the next year, said Yang, adding that the government of Haidian district also gives its support.

Huang Yifang, vice-president of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), addresses the opening ceremony of the 16th World Culture Festival on May 19 in Beijing. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

"This is the first time that the government of Haidian district provided supports to BLCU's World Cultural Festival," said Zhang Jinglin, director of the publicity department of the district's government.

Presentation of the cultural programs of BLCU's overseas students in the district's communities is encouraged as it will make locals' lives more colorful, while the district's local cultures are also expected to be better known by foreign students through the World Culture Festival, said Zhang when talking about his expectations of the festival.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/edu/2019-05/21/content_37472165.htm