On the afternoon of April 23rd, Silk Road School (SRS) organized a Mutual Learning Salon Between Chinese and Foreign Cultures as part of the Belt and Road International Cultural Festival. Students from China, Russia, India, Georgia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Mexico, and other countries gathered together, engaging in a vibrant collision of diverse cultures and sharing a feast of thoughts and cultures.

The event primarily took the form of one-on-one dialogues, where participants shared their perspectives from the standpoint of their respective countries on cultural taboos, greeting etiquette, the meaning of national flags, traditional festivals, wedding customs, cultural heritage, screen culture, social values, and other topics. They exchanged viewpoints and engaged in discussions. After one round of dialogues, they switched partners for a new round of exploration. The atmosphere was enthusiastic, with everyone passionately sharing their cultures and the continuous sparks of interaction. Both Chinese and foreign students were not willing to stop dialoguing even after several rounds of partner switches.

Through these dialogues, participants gained new insights into many cultures. For example, they learned that in Cambodia, it is taboo to touch someone's head, and that in Tajik culture, the number seven symbolizes perfection and happiness. They discovered that Mexican weddings can last for a long time, even up to a month, and that Georgian culture emphasizes great respect for women. They also learned that the national flag of Nepal is the only non-rectangular flag in the world, consisting of two overlapping triangles, symbolizing the Himalayas.

"Not only is this event enjoyable, but it is also very educational. It has made me even more eager to learn and research Chinese culture," said Putheany from Cambodia.

Nacho from Mexico expressed, "This event allows me to exchange viewpoints and share ideas with new friends from different backgrounds. It deepens my interaction and friendship with Chinese students as well as broadening my knowledge of different cultures. I hope to have more opportunities to participate in such activities with more people."

Yu Cuihua, a Chinese student, said, "It is my first time interacting with international students from SRS, and we have a delightful conversation on various cultural topics, including the meaning of national flag colors, etiquette and customs, and festival traditions."

"In this event, I not only learn about the fascinating cultural customs of many countries but also gradually become aware of the differences between cultures in thinking patterns. Accordingly, I adjusted my communication style and is able to enhance my cross-cultural communication abilities to a large extent," said Zhai Pupu, a Chinese student.

"Let cultural exchanges to transcend estrangement and mutual learning to transcend clashes. Promote mutual understanding and friendship among people of all countries and build beautiful and harmonious garden of civilization.” This is the ardent hope put forward by President Xi Jinping to the younger generation. At this salon, Chinese and international students met friends from different cultural backgrounds, exchanged their own cultures and personal reflections, learned about different cultures and ways of life, formed precious friendships, showcased the friendly and open demeanor of contemporary youth, presented a collision of diverse cultures and perspectives, and promoted exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. The young generation of the world is using their own ways to write touching stories of cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning in the new era.