On July 18, thirty-seven high school students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gathered at the CIMC Auditorium of the University of Michigan – Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI, JI hereafter) to celebrate the conclusion of their summer camp in China. The summer camp, the first of its kind organized by SJTU, is part of efforts to deepen educational cooperation between the UAE and China, marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Consul General of the UAE in Shanghai, Mohannad Alnaqbi, delivered a speech at the closing ceremony. Expressing gratitude to SJTU for hosting the event, he hoped that the camp participants would become ambassadors for spreading UAE culture and customs. He also warmly welcomed SJTU students to visit the UAE for exchange and study.
SJTU Vice President Weidong Liu extended a warm welcome to the guests. He highlighted the university’s long history of education and significant achievements in international cooperation. He expressed his hope that more students from the UAE would come to SJTU to pursue their dreams and contribute to global development and exchange.
Fatima Mazrouei, Director of Emiratization at Mubadala Investment Company, said the summer camp reflected the continuous development of China-UAE friendship and cooperation. She also expressed her expectation for more in-depth cooperation with SJTU in the future.
SJTU Deputy Director of the Division of Global Cooperation and Exchange, Wei Ma, reviewed the two-week summer camp activities, which covered a range of topics from basic theory to cutting-edge technology, classic cases to innovative practices, and academic courses to cultural experiences. He hoped the experience would become a memorable part of the students’ lives and encouraged them to contribute to bilateral exchanges between the two countries as ambassadors of friendship in the future.
A forum with the theme of youth global competence was held during the event. JI Dean Chien-Pin Chen and Deputy Director of the Fudan University Middle East Studies Center Chuchu Zhang delivered keynote speeches titled “When East Meets West: Cultural Exchanges” and “Seeking New Progress: The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and the UAE” respectively. A panel discussion on building cultural bridges and empowering global youth followed the keynote speeches.
The closing ceremony also featured presentations by UAE students on their achievements in artificial intelligence and robotics, a speech in Chinese by student representative Hessa Ali, and a chorus of all campers singing a Chinese song called “Little Happiness.”
A UAE cultural exhibition was held beside the CIMC Auditorium, showcasing UAE customs, arts, cuisine, and recent achievements in a colorful and comprehensive manner.
Group photo of the UAE summer camp students at Hangzhou
