With the Spring Festival approaching and all things renewed, Sichuan University of Culture and Arts joined hands with Mianyang Central Cinema to launch a cross-cultural film screening event titled "Celebrating Spring Festival Through Cinema, Embracing the New Year with Art" on February 11. Held at the cinema's Science and Technology Museum venue, the gathering brought together international students from 44 Belt and Road countries and local primary school pupils for a heartwarming celebration of Chinese New Year. Through the universal language of film, participants experienced the warmth of Chinese culture and forged deeper cross-border friendships. The event marked a vivid implementation of the university's Belt and Road education initiative and its commitment to grounding international students in China's national context. It also served as a featured component of Mianyang's 2026 "Joyful Spring Shopping" festival, enriching cultural consumption offerings while fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and abroad.

Cinema as Bridge: Cultural Exchange Moves from Screen to Life Engagement

Film transcends borders as a universal artistic language and serves as a vital vehicle for cultural mutual learning along the Belt and Road. This event leveraged the "cinema plus festival" model to blend Spring Festival movie traditions with immersive urban cultural experiences, allowing international students to engage with China through audiovisual art.

At the venue, cinema executives delivered guided tours on Chinese cinema history and Mianyang's distinctive urban culture. Representatives from the university's international student body performed ethnic songs and dances, showcasing diverse cultural heritage. Chinese and foreign youth paired up during intermissions to exchange handmade gifts, creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere. These scenes of "appreciating our own beauty and the beauty of others" offered a vivid testament to people-to-people diplomacy at its finest.

 

Education First: Building a Hub for Cultivating Youth Ambassadors of the Belt and Road

As a co-organizer, Sichuan University of Culture and Arts has consistently leveraged its disciplinary strengths to deepen engagement in international education. In 2025 alone, the university enrolled nearly 300 degree-seeking students from 44 Belt and Road countries, steadily expanding both the scale and quality of its international programs.

This event enriched students' cultural life in China while transforming them from classroom learners into cultural experiencers and friendship ambassadors. By engaging with Chinese cinema, local families, and urban street life, international students gained firsthand exposure to the living heritage and contemporary vitality of Chinese culture, deepening their appreciation for China's development achievements. They emerged as young envoys bridging China and the world, equipped to tell China's story on the global stage.