A special table tennis match was held at Shenyang Jianzhu University (SJU) in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, on July 18. It was between Savin Vlad from the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania, and Zhao Zirui, the table tennis coach of the 2023 Shenyang Jianzhu University-Romanian Transilvania University of Brasov Confucius Institute Summer Camp.

Vlad's passion for table tennis began at a young age. He was drawn to the high intensity and intricacy of the sport and spent much time practicing. So he was confident of his skills — well, compared to the other Romanian students present.

Although he didn't win the match, he regarded getting to play against a pro as a priceless experience. "My table tennis skills improved a lot after playing and learning techniques from Zhao. It also gave me a deeper understanding of Chinese table tennis culture," said Vlad, adding that he knew table tennis is China's national sport and more than just a game here — it's an integral part of Chinese national identity.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of friendly provincial relations between Liaoning province and Brasov county. And it was through the summer camp that Vlad and other Romanian students had the opportunity to come to SJU for a 13-day visit, starting from July 11.

In Shenyang, they experienced Chinese culture through Chinese language learning, trips to places of interest as well as a series of activities, including playing table tennis, making dumplings from scratch and trying out the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting.

"Through Chinese language courses and field trips to famous sites, the students from Romania were able to fully experience the profoundness of Chinese culture," said Florescu Adriana, executive dean of the Confucius Institute.

Abrudan Sara-Maria, whose 16th birthday happened to fall during the summer camp, was deeply moved by the efforts of her newly made friends. In order to make her feel welcomed in China, the summer camp volunteers decorated the classroom in advance, ordered a cake, and prepared gifts for her, including traditional Chinese head-wear and a panda doll. And Wang Bing, director of the Confucius Institute in Brasov, also gave her a paper-cutting artwork representing the 56 nationalities of China.

Ana Samira Naomi, another Romanian student, said that everything about the summer camp was incredible and was like a dream come true. She not only learned the Chinese language, of which its characters she had been interested in for a long time, but also visited Shenyang landmarks, including Shenyang Imperial Palace, where its style and architecture greatly amazed her. She also fell in love with traditional Chinese clothing and, with the help of the volunteers, she bought three qipao — a traditional Chinese dress considered auspicious.

Xia Baishu, vice president of SJU, said that the Belt and Road Initiative not only builds a bridge for commercial relations but also for cultural interaction and dialogue between civilizations. The friendship of different countries lies in the affinity of people, which can be greatly enhanced through cultural and educational activities as well as personnel exchanges.

"I hope that young students of the two countries will get to know each other and become ambassadors for spreading China-Romania friendship," said Xia.

According to Vlad, since his return to Romania from the summer camp, his passion for table tennis has only grown stronger, and he now dedicates three to four hours a day to practicing, which is also an opportunity for him to showcase his newly learned tricks and techniques to his friends.

Vlad is also planning to apply for a scholarship to study in China so that he can spend more time in the country and learn firsthand about it. "Since returning home, I've been immersing myself in Chinese culture. It's one of my favorite countries. I love every aspect of it — from the people to the food, from the history to the culture," said Vlad.

Yu Yue and Bai Lulu contributed to the story.

wuyong@chinadaily.com.cn