School News

On the afternoon of May 20, 2025, the School of Foreign Languages at Northwest University welcomed a study tour group from Southern Utah University at the Chang’an campus. The event, themed “Dialogues Across the Pacific,” successfully facilitated cultural exchange between China and the United States. With the coordination of the School of International Education at Northwest University, the 17 students and 3 faculty members from Southern Utah University engaged in close interactions with the graduate student volunteers from our school. The event was attended by Zhao Zhihao, the Party Secretary of our school, Cao Ruonan, the Dean, and other relevant faculty representatives.

Dean Cao Ruonan of the School of Foreign Languages warmly welcomed the study tour group. She reviewed the history of over ten years of exchange between our school and Southern Utah University and expressed her hopes for further cooperation between the two sides through this event, continuing the long-standing friendship. The team leader from Southern Utah University, Wen Ouyang, along with Tayah Nelson and other faculty members, highly praised the event, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural international exchanges. They expressed their desire to carry forward the tradition of friendly relations between the two schools and to plant the seeds of Sino-American friendship among the youth.

The teachers and students of the study tour group from Southern Utah University first visited the Sino-American Friendship Monument. Led by Ms. Gao Minna, they learned about the historical story behind the monument and experienced the profound significance of Sino-American friendship. They also visited the statues of Confucius and Aristotle, gaining insight into the essence of Eastern and Western cultural educators. The group then moved to the Snow Reading Room in the West Learning Building, where they explored precious historical images and documents to deepen their understanding of the contributions made by international friends such as Helen Snow and Edgar Snow to Sino-American cultural exchange.

Subsequently, representatives from both universities gathered at the Lecture Hall 2 of the School of Foreign Languages for a relaxing and enjoyable free exchange. The discussions covered topics from campus life and pop culture to Xi’an cuisine and international films. Through their interactions, the youth from both sides deepened their understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures. Students from Southern Utah University showcased the natural beauty of Utah, while students from Northwest University passionately recommended the distinctive food of Xi’an. The atmosphere was lively, with continuous laughter throughout the event.

At the end of the activity, the attending faculty and students took a group photo to commemorate the occasion, marking the successful conclusion of this cultural exchange. The “Dialogue Across the Pacific” not only strengthened the friendship between Chinese and American youth, but also laid a solid foundation for future international collaboration. The School of Foreign Languages will continue to promote cross-cultural exchanges and cultivate outstanding talent with a global perspective.

This event responded to President Xi Jinping’s call in November 2023 to welcome American teenagers to visit China. The initiative aims to expand exchanges between the people of China and the United States, particularly the younger generation. Through cross-cultural exchanges between Chinese and American youth, it seeks to deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two nations’ peoples, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.