Latest news with #BeijingForeignStudiesUniversity
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Campus Gen-Z Leaders Exchange Program Concludes in Beijing
BEIJING, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 14, the closing ceremony of the Global Campus Gen-Z Leaders Exchange Program & Roundtable Forum on Youth Empowerment in Civilizational Mutual Learning was held in Beijing. The program, jointly organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association, Global Times Online ( and the Graduate School of Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University, gathered Gen-Z leaders from over 70 prestigious universities across 29 countries, including China, Germany, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. A remarkable 54 of these universities are ranked among the top 300 in the QS World University Rankings, including Imperial College London, Cambridge University, National University of Singapore, University College London, University of Pennsylvania, University of California Berkeley, the University of Melbourne, Peking University, and Tsinghua University. The forum featured deliberations among Gen-Z leaders on key themes including 'Dialogue Among Civilizations in the Digital Era' and 'Youth Power in Shaping a Sustainable Future,' producing deep insights and engaging intellectual discourse. Darren Wijaya from Indonesia observed: 'We often think breaking stereotypes takes huge campaigns. But actually, it's these small, everyday stories—shared through our phones—that change how people see the world.' Addressing the collective responsibility of youth in confronting global climate challenges, Emma Jane from Italy declared: 'We are not asking for a seat at the table, we are building a new one.' The event concluded with Gen-Z leaders and distinguished guests endorsing the Global Youth Initiative, calling on universities worldwide to adopt principles of openness, collaboration, and mutual benefit to build lasting cooperative frameworks. By integrating online and in-person engagement, the initiative aims to foster interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and transnational networks, harness global youth expertise, and write a transformative chapter in international youth solidarity and ceremony of the Global Campus Gen-Z Leaders Exchange Program & Roundtable Forum, Beijing Company： Person: Liu LeqiEmail: liuleqi@ 0086-010-65361101City: Beijing, China A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Star
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
US visa hurdles put international students on edge
BEIJING: Instead of the anticipated F-1 visa, a Chinese student received a green slip on Wednesday morning at the United States embassy in Beijing, initiating a waiting period of "about two weeks" for a decision that could affirm or upend his plan to start a master's program in the US in August. Chris Yang, a senior English major at Beijing Foreign Studies University, received an offer from the University of Pennsylvania for a dual degree in social policy and public administration. The atmosphere during the interview was notably more tense than it was two years ago when he was preparing to participate in an exchange program in the US, Yang recalled. He said that on Wednesday, the visa officer asked only two questions: "Which school will you be attending?" and "What did you do in the US last year?" Yang explained that he had taken part in an exchange program at the University of California, Berkeley and later went on a holiday trip to visit a friend and attend a concert. "The visa officer was typing on the computer the whole time. He then took my passport and gave me a green slip, saying they needed additional administrative review," he recounted, adding that he was told to expect an update in about two weeks. "My majors are not generally considered sensitive. In the past, visas for these fields were almost always approved without issue, while engineering students or PhD candidates were more likely to face visa hurdles," he said. Recent US visa policies, including President Donald Trump's previous calls to pause visa interviews and scrutinize social media accounts, might be influencing the current climate, he added. On May 27, the US halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students seeking to study in the country, aiming to expand the screening of their social media activity. As Yang had scheduled his visa interview days before the announcement, he was able to attend it in early June while new appointments were on hold. He expressed concern over broader US rhetoric regarding the potential revocation of Chinese student visas. "I don't have a plan B, like a gap year or studying in another country. All my master's applications were to US universities," he said. Yang's experience shed light on the growing anxiety among Chinese students amid shifting US policies toward international students. On Thursday morning, a group chat on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, sparked a heated discussion about Trump's executive order on Wednesday to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard University. The move temporarily blocks nearly all new Harvard students from entering the US on the types of visas most international students use for university study or academic exchange programmes. Following the order, Chinese students — most of whom are currently studying at or preparing to attend Harvard — expressed shock and anxiety over the new visa policy in the "Harvard F-1 Student Support Group", a Xiaohongshu group created to share information and advice about overseas study. Two Chinese students — holding F-1 and J-1 visas and not in their first year — claimed they were on a flight from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Boston in the US when they learned about the new policy, but they were able to enter the country smoothly on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, some first-year students scheduled to travel to the US in the coming days said in the group chat that they had made emergency calls to Harvard International Office and were advised not to travel amid the uncertainty. "Please inform us in the group if anyone successfully enters," one student said. In response to the order, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday that China has consistently opposed the politicization of educational cooperation. The US actions in this regard will only harm its own image and international credibility, Lin said. "We will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas," he said. The visa suspension is the latest in a series of new policies recently announced by the US. Late last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the country would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students, particularly those studying in "critical fields". Chen Zhiwen, a member of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy, said that revoking and restricting visas for Chinese students is one of the key strategies the US uses to contain China. The US recognised that as long as China has talent, technological decoupling would be temporary, so it is simultaneously pursuing a talent containment strategy, he added. Liu Wei, senior vice-president of New Channel International Education Group and CEO of its overseas study division, said the US has long been highly vigilant about the risks of technology transfer. With technological competition intensifying, there is a more cautious approach toward certain groups of international students, Liu said. Currently, the policies primarily target students with backgrounds in science and engineering, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, quantum computing, electronic engineering and biotechnology. Students with family backgrounds in scientific research or the defense industry may also face more stringent scrutiny. Liu suggested that parents and students should carefully consider alternative plans — such as preparing for a potential gap year or exploring other countries with relatively stable visa policies — in case studying in the US is obstructed or delayed. According to experts, the future of Chinese student enrollment in the US will be shaped by a complex interplay of factors including visa policies, international relations and the comparative quality of education systems. "If the US maintains stringent visa regulations, the current downward trend in enrollment may continue, with a shift toward nonsensitive majors and a more selective student body," Liu said. Moreover, as global education systems improve and other countries implement policies to attract international students, the competition may prompt further changes in the number of Chinese students choosing the US — even if visa policies stabilize, he added. - China Daily/ANN
Business Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Times
How an oil trader from Singapore ended up being a caddie for top English golfer Justin Rose
[SINGAPORE] It was a sleepless night for Ivan Wang as he tossed and turned on his hotel bed, wondering about his date with history the next day. It was the eve of the US Masters golf tournament in Augusta, and Wang – an oil trader from Singapore – was handed the dream job of being the caddie for top English golfer Justin Rose at the Par-3 contest at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in the US state of Georgia. The tournament – one of the four men's Major championships in professional golf – took place during the week of Apr 7, which was eventually won by Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy. Even before daybreak that Wednesday (Apr 9), Wang – a member of Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore, where he plays regularly – was already awake and raring to go. After breakfast, he rode to the course in style, inside a limousine with a friend and colleague from England, who was the one responsible for arranging the caddie role in the first place. Once they reached the venue, Wang walked past huge crowds to the Players' Room where he met up with Rose, who subsequently finished runner-up to McIlroy after a play-off. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Said Wang of his encounter with the 44-year-old Rose: 'He was so down-to-earth. After we shook hands, I donned the white caddie uniform and was about to carry Rose's half-set to the first hole. 'Suddenly, he stopped me and told me to carry his full set, as he wanted me to have the real Masters experience of being a caddie. It was sweet of him to do this, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.' Wang noted that while there were formalities and rules in the Par-3 nine-hole contest, everyone was there to have fun on the course, with some players even bringing along their wives and children. 'On the last hole, the caddie is slated to hit the tee-shot. But alas, I sent my shot into water, as I was just short on the 102-metre hole with Rose's 52-degree wedge,' said Wang. The 40-year-old Wang, born in China's Shanxi province, studied Russian literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University and worked in Hong Kong before coming to Singapore in 2020. The 13.9-handicapper picked up the oil trade business on the job and currently works for Gunvor Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gunvor Group, a large independent commodities trading house headquartered in Geneva. He travels frequently because of work and also goes on the occasional golf trip with friends. But ticking off this trip to Augusta from his bucket list was the 'most amazing' one so far for the father-of-three who now plays once or twice a week at Tanah Merah Country Club. His phone now has hundreds of photos and videos of him and Rose on the Augusta course that's famous for its azaleas, dogwoods and pine needles. Next on Wang's bucket list: To go back to Augusta one day and play a full round of golf on that very course.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Love Learning Chinese? Chinesia Launches Global Live & One-on-One Classes This May
HONG KONG, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinesia, the Mandarin learning app beloved by a new generation of language learners, has officially announced the launch of its Live Classes and Personalized One-on-One Programs starting May 2025. Designed for beginners, Chinesia has won the hearts of young learners across Southeast Asia with its exquisite illustrations, gamified lessons, and a lovable panda mascot that reflects elements of traditional Chinese culture. The app combines AI coaching, cultural immersion, and multilingual support, now available in more than 20 interface languages including Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and English. This May, Chinesia will roll out international learning programs: Live Group Classes in Thailand, Vietnam, North Africa, and Indonesia One-on-One Personalized Programs in North America, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia Why is Chinesia gaining momentum so quickly? Beyond its innovative tech and appealing visuals, Chinesia offers a deeply immersive and practical learning experience. In partnership with Beijing Foreign Studies University, Chinesia has developed a comprehensive Chinese learning solution tailored to the diverse needs of global learners. It goes beyond traditional study methods to offer: 200+ video-based lessons covering everyday life scenarios and HSK vocabulary A gamified learning system that builds listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a fun and effective way An exclusive 100-episode animated series that brings Chinese culture to life, helping learners understand the language through rich cultural storytelling "Chinesia blends AI tutoring with real-life culture and short video stories — so you learn the way people actually talk, not just how textbooks write," said the company's CEO. "This is where Chinesia truly stands out." With China now the largest trading partner for 166 countries and regions, Mandarin proficiency is becoming increasingly valuable. According to China's National Immigration Administration, cross-border travel surged to 610 million trips in 2024, a 43.9% year-on-year increase — reflecting a growing global connection with Chinese-speaking communities. Chinesia is perfectly positioned to ride this wave, offering a modern, dynamic, and culturally rich approach to Mandarin learning. Backed by a passionate team of educators and technologists, Chinesia is on a mission to become the leading platform for learning Chinese worldwide. Chinesia is now available globally on both the App Store and Google Contact:Jade Rongjade@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Chinesia
Barnama
23-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Bahasa Melayu A Diplomatic Asset In Malaysia-China Relations
GENERAL By Muhammad Saufee Rosman Dan Ahmad Idzwan Arzmi KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- As Malaysia and China marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year, Bahasa Melayu is emerging as a strategic diplomatic asset to further strengthen bilateral ties, particularly through people-to-people exchanges, economic cooperation, and regional engagement. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1974, both nations have cultivated strong relations across various sectors, including trade, culture, and education. Among the initiatives is the establishment of the Chair of Malay Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) in 2007, which was renamed the Sultan Ibrahim Malay Studies Chair in 2024. With increasing interest in language and cultural exchange, promoting mutual understanding through these elements is now viewed as a vital instrument of soft power and long-term cooperation. Principal Adviser at the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia Dr Oh Ei Sun said the initiative also aligned with the key objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly the pillar of people-to-people connectivity, alongside infrastructure development and investment facilitation. 'As language is the soul of culture, such exchanges would deepen these ties,' he told Bernama recently, adding that this effort could help build a more practical and effective foundation for sustained collaboration. When asked whether Malaysia's effort to promote the Malay language in China should be seen as a soft power strategy, he opined that the effort could at the very least produce more Malay speakers in China, which would in turn facilitate future bilateral engagements in areas such as the economy, communication, and tourism. Previously, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, highlighted the growing importance of student exchanges between Malaysia and China, with plans to send more Malaysian students to China to foster educational and cultural ties. His Majesty also expressed his support for the promotion of the Sultan Ibrahim Malay Studies Chair at BFSU, stressing that language played a key role in enhancing bilateral relations and fostering deeper mutual understanding.
