From February 17 to 25, 2025, the BelarusState Economic University (BSEU) hosted the Chinese Culture Festival titled “China. A Great Heritage.” The festival aimed to strengthen the relationship between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China. The event was curated and organized by Elena Alexandrovna Malashenko, the Dean of the School of International Business Communications in collaboration with Chinese language teachers Zhang Haijun, Liu Yixiao, Varvara Yuryevna Nazarenko, Li Zilong, Liu Hui, and intern Karina Anatolyevna Linevich.
Participants fully immersed themselves in the festival atmosphere: they explored the arts of calligraphy and painting, national cuisine, delved into Eastern philosophy, and learned more about the cultural traditions of the Middle Kingdom. To speak a foreign language fluently, one must understand its culture and communicate with native speakers—BSEU students had this opportunity.
Native speakers and teachers from the School of International Business Communications, Zhang Haijun, Li Zilong, and Liu Yixiao, offered students the chance to try their hand at calligraphy and learn how to use Chinese brushes and ink.
The teacher Varvara Yuryevna Nazarenko introduced second-year students to the eight major regional cuisines of China and demonstrated Eastern table etiquette. Intern Karina Anatolyevna Linevich conducted a lecture with a linguistic focus on “Peking Opera.”
The teacher Men Jialiang also delivered a thematic lecture for third-year students on “The History of Theater and Cinema in China,” while Liu Hui presented a lecture on “Modern Fashion in China.”
Li Zilong held a masterclass on Chinese painting, which saw active participation from students of the Faculty of International Business Communications and the Faculty of International Economic Relations studying Chinese.
After exploring the Chinese-speaking worldview, students, inspired by new discoveries, showcased their competition entries: hanging Chinese lanterns, origami dragons, and fans, which now adorn the Confucius Classroom (Room 2/303).
Winners of the competitions:
- “Painting. Decorative Elements in Chinese Culture”:
1st place – Nikita Sergeevich Krishtal (the School of International Economic Relations) and Valeria Grigoryevna Dorokhina (the School of International Business Communications)
2nd place – Darya Yuryevna Lukashova and Darya Sergeevna Marus (the School of International Economic Relations)
3rd place – Alesya Grinko (the School of International Economic Relations) - “Painting: China Through the Eyes of Belarusian Students”:
1st place – Pavel Anatolyevich Gorchakov (the School of International Economic Relations) and Anastasia Viktorovna Khilko (the School of International Business Communications)
2nd place – Vladislav Vitalyevich Belko (the School of International Economic Relations)
3rd place – Kirill Vladimirovich Kashpar and Darya Sergeevna Marus (the School of International Economic Relations) - “Chinese Calligraphy”:
1st place – Elena Sergeevna Shpakovskaya (the School of International Business Communications)
2nd place – Ekaterina Vitalyevna Yakush (the School of International Business Communications) and Darya Yuryevna Lukashova (the School of International Economic Relations)
3rd place – Ekaterina Alexandrovna Berezneva and Alesya Grinko (the School of International Economic Relations) - “Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) Quiz”:
1st place – Liya Lishkevich (the School of International Business Communications)
2nd place – Anastasia Dmitrievna Antonovich (the School of International Business Communications)
3rd place – Ksenia Alexandrovna Laskovich (the School of International Business Communications)
Prizes were purchased using funds provided by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (China) to support the functioning of the Confucius Classroom at the Republican Institute of Chinese Studies of BSU within the Belarus State Economic University during the 2024–2025 academic year.
The festival allowed BSEU students to dive into the boundless sea of Chinese culture and elevate their cultural awareness.
