In the afternoon of June 4^th, the commencement of the 3^rd International Chinese Studies (ICS) was held in Room A104 in Liyun Building. The ICS of this year covers subjects of Chinese language, literature, history, politics, economy, laws and folk culture. In total, 27 students from Canada, US and China participated in the program. Prof. Qingyun Tu, President of BNUZ, Prof. Robert Perrins, Dean of School of Arts at Acadia University, Prof. Charles Beaupre, Dean of Confucius Institute, Prof. Alexander McLeod, from Saint Mary’s University, and Ms. Crystal Garrett, Anchor of Canadian Halifax Global TV Network, attended the commencement.

The commencement ceremony started with the group exchange. Students from Canada, US and China shared their special inter-cultural experience and feelings about the 3-week stay at BNUZ via videos and photos. Canadian students also sang a song named Sweet in Chinese which aroused warm applauses.

Prof. Qingyun Tu extended his sincere congratulations on the successful completion of the 3^rd International Chinese Studies this year and expressed heart-felt thanks to Prof. Perrins and Prof. Beaupre for their constant support as well as to the Canadian expert team and all participants for their hard work and efforts. The ICS program has been carried out successfully for three consecutive years since 2012 when it was first established. And the number of participants is increasing annually. This year, there are 15 Canadian students, 1 American student and 11 Chinese students. The ICS program not only promotes the inter-cultural exchange and communication between China and Canada and US, but also strengthens the friendship between Chinese faculty and students and their Canadian counterparts. Last Prof. Tu hoped the intership session in the following 10 days a fruitful one. As “Long distance separates no bosom friends” goes, Chinese students have established profound friendship with their peers from Canada and US.

Prof. Mingyuan Zhang, Dean of BNUZ School of Chinese, who was absent for the commencement ceremony as he was on a trip in Europe, conveyed his congratulations to the successful completion of ICS, where students could gain firsthand experience and understanding about Chinese culture, economy, history and society through both in-class study and field study in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Humen and Zhongshan, etc. Prof. Zhang said “currently, Chinese mainland is experiencing a cultural renaissance which attracts great attention from the whole world and ICS program just serves as a significant platform to promote the profound exchanges and communications between China and other countries in the world.”

Prof. Perrins said that in the next 10 years, 20 years or even longer, this great passion towards International Chinese Studies won’t be decreased at all. He also encouraged students to deepen their learning in the past three weeks which he believed will bring them life-long benefit.

Prof. Beaupre said “the first and foremost thing is to learn Mandarin and the second is to appreciate opportunities to learn various languages and culture exchanges.” He told students to enjoy the charms and essence of Chinese culture and understand its rhythm and artistic with the great tool of Chinese language.

Prof. Alexander from Saint Mary’s University said that the ICS program of this year has provided an excellent platform for inter-cultural communications and exchanges between China and Canada, and students have had great fun in exploring cultures of different countries and nations.

The commencement ceremony was concluded by the conference of course completion certificate. Prof. Tu, Prof. Perrins, Prof. Beaupre and Prof. Alexander respectively conferred the certificates to Chinese and Canadian participant students.