On the afternoon of November 7, the opening ceremony for the 2025 cohort of international students at Huzhou University and the inauguration of the Sixth International Culture Festival were held in the lecture hall of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Building. President Sheng Kuang and Vice President Li Qingfeng attended the ceremony. Heads of the Graduate Student Affairs Office, Student Affairs Office, School of International Education and relevant academic units, outstanding faculty representatives, and 114 international students of the 2025 cohort from 31 countries gathered together to embark on a new journey of cross-cultural study.

　　The ceremony opened with the solemn performance of the national anthem of China and the national anthems of other countries. The Five-star Red Flag and the national flags of various countries complemented each other, symbolizing the encounter and coexistence of diverse civilizations. As one of the highlights of the event, the opening of the Sixth International Culture Festival was launched simultaneously, with international student representatives from different countries presenting wonderful performances in their traditional attire.

　　In his address entitled “See the World at Huzhou University, Connect the Future Together”, Sheng Kuang delivered a speech to the audience. He extended a warm welcome to the newly enrolled international students who had come from afar, and introduced the profound cultural heritage of Huzhou as well as the achievements Huzhou University has made in advancing internationalization. Sheng Kuang put forward three expectations for the new students. First, he encouraged them to “see Huzhou University with eyes of curiosity”, to engage deeply in academic inquiry, make full use of the University’s high-quality teaching resources, laboratory platforms and interdisciplinary courses, pursue excellence in their respective fields, and put into practice the University motto Mingti Dayong—“Grasping Principles and Applying Knowledge”—through concrete actions. Second, he urged them to “see China with an open mind”, encouraging students to visit the streets and villages of Huzhou, experience the unique charm of tea culture and silk culture, and, through national-condition education activities such as “See Beautiful China in Huzhou”, feel both the dynamism of China’s development and the warmth of its culture. Third, he encouraged them to “connect the future through committed action”, expressing the hope that students would take the International Culture Festival as a new starting point, become “living name cards” of cross-cultural exchange, and, in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, convey friendship, share wisdom, and grow into a solid bridge linking China and the wider world.

　　Speaking from her own experience, faculty representative Wang Yueming shared three insights with the new students: to engage deeply rather than merely sample experiences, to be unafraid of “taking detours” and bravely explore, and to move beyond language learning toward genuine cultural connection. She expressed her warm welcome to the new students joining the big, caring family of Huzhou University, and pledged that the faculty would walk side by side with each of them as they embark on a new chapter of university life.

　　Senior student representative Wilmot Isaac (Chinese name: Mo Fan) from Ghana expressed the hope that the new students would cherish their time on campus, make full use of the platforms and resources provided by the University, grow through exploration, and make progress in an atmosphere of inclusiveness. New student representative Gubaidullina Shakhnaz (Chinese name: Sha Henasi) from Russia called on her peers to face difficulties with composure, embrace differences with an open mind, and pursue their ideals with determination, writing their own unique stories of study abroad with sincerity and hard work.

　　During the ceremony, an award presentation was held for the Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students in China. University leaders presented awards to 18 outstanding international students who received the scholarship for the 2024–2025 academic year, in recognition of their remarkable performance in academic research, cross-cultural exchange and other areas.

　　Following the opening ceremony, Ms. Chen Xiaozhen from the School of International Education delivered a lecture on China’s national conditions for all newly enrolled international students.