International students gather at Shanghai friendship camp

The opening ceremony for the 20th Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp was held on July 13 at the Minhang Zizhu Campus of the No 2 High School of East China Normal University, bringing together 107 students and teachers from 17 countries across five continents.

The camp, co-hosted by the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Shanghai Youth Federation, runs from July 12 to 22.

Over the past two decades, the program has welcomed 1,918 young people and teachers from 70 countries and regions, fostering friendship through cultural exchange.

This year's camp features students and teachers from the United States, Australia, Italy, Malaysia, and other countries. For the first time, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Montenegro, and Turkmenistan are also participating.

After the opening ceremony, participants from different countries formed mixed teams for icebreaker games and took part in a group drumming activity.

For some participants, friendships had already begun to form. Niccolo Franca, a 17-year-old student from San Marino, said he had made friends with a Chinese student.

In the coming days, participants will take part in painting activities and forums focused on youth, the future, and sustainable development. The program will also include a mini world expo, hands-on technology experiences, and activities related to intangible cultural heritage, offering participants a closer look at Shanghai's culture and innovation.

For Samson Kgomotso Moimane, a teacher and group leader from South Africa, Shanghai's appeal has grown with each visit. Moimane, visiting the city for the third time, said China had come to feel like a home away from home.

He mentioned that students from South Africa are interested in China and Shanghai, especially the city's technological progress. On a previous visit, he was especially impressed by the WorldSkills Museum, where visitors learn about innovative technologies and projects. "We always look forward to visiting Shanghai to experience it firsthand, and every time we do, we are never disappointed," he stated.

Participants will engage in city-wide orienteering activities and spend a day with local families, enhancing their understanding of Shanghai’s daily life and urban culture. Afterward, they will visit Suzhou to gain further insights into the Yangtze River Delta region.

For some participants, the camp is also an opportunity to learn more about China, a country they have long been interested in.

Denissza Inges, a 16-year-old student from Hungary, said it was her first time in Shanghai, even though she had visited China several times before. She said she has been learning Chinese since kindergarten and joined the camp after hearing about it from her sister, who participated in 2024.

Krishav Pant, a 16-year-old student from Nepal, has studied Chinese for three years and hopes to attend Tsinghua University in the future.

Participants from different countries shared similar views on the importance of youth exchange.

For Moimane, the camp provides a platform for students to experience diverse cultures and think about the future together. He said it was important for students from different countries to meet, as learning about other cultures could help them understand and accept one another and reduce misunderstandings around the world.