On October 15, the opening ceremony of the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) Program was held at Zhengzhou Electric Power College in central China's Henan Province. More than 20 young people from France began their journey there to experience Chinese culture and vocational education studying.

During the visit, the French students toured the college's power safety training lab and green electricity virtual simulation center, gaining a close look at China's teaching facilities and advances in vocational education. Unlike traditional classroom learning, the hands-on, immersive experience gave them a vivid sense of China's modernization in technical education.

In addition to skill exchanges, the program offered a range of cultural activities. From Sichuan opera face-changing and Baduanjin(a traditional Chinese fitness practice) to Chinese language lessons, cloud-shoulder making, calligraphy, and letter handwriting in Chinese, the French students immersed themselves in the richness of Chinese traditions. They also joined their Chinese peers in a friendly sports event, deepening mutual understanding and friendship through shared experiences.

One of the participants, Audrey, said it was her first time visiting Henan. She noted that local people were very friendly and that the school's modern facilities and beautiful campus had left a strong impression on her.

Yang Xiaokun, Vice President of Zhengzhou Electric Power College, expressed hope that the program would enable young people from both countries to grow together through skills exchange and cultural dialogue, bridging the cooperation and mutual understanding between both sides.

The Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) Program, launched by China's Ministry of Education and implemented by the China Education Association for International Exchange, aims to attract young people from Europe and the United States through university partnerships, language study, and short-term visits. The initiative seeks to promote cultural exchange, mutual learning among civilizations, and stronger people-to-people connections. (Reporter/Tong Lin)

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Li Siyao