Chongqing - The 2025 "Study in Chongqing" Brand Promotion was successfully held on the afternoon of June 26th at the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO) Park. Co-hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission and organized by Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications and the WCICO, with support from the Chongqing Association for International Education (CAIE), the bilingual (Chinese-English) event captivated a global audience exceeding one million online and offline viewers.

The 2025 "Study in Chongqing" Brand Promotion was held at the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO) Park. (Photo/DENG Nan)

The hybrid event featured immersive interactions, live global Q&A sessions, and presentations from Chongqing universities, showcasing the city's unique charm and achievements in educational openness. Attendees included representatives from the consulates of multiple countries based in Chongqing and Chengdu, leaders, faculty, and student representatives from six universities in Chongqing, representatives from overseas partner institutions, and a vast online audience, collectively witnessing a significant cross-border dialogue on education.

"Study in Chongqing" Brand Promotion has attracted a lot of international students. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Chongqing: A Premier Destination

The event commenced with a video titled "One Year Anniversary of the 'Study in Chongqing' Brand Promotion," vividly chronicling the year-long journey of connection between Chongqing and international students.

Ms. JIN Ling, Deputy Director-General of the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, delivered the opening address. "As a shining pearl in western China, Chongqing offers conspicuous advantages for young people to study, live, innovate, and pursue entrepreneurship," stated JIN. She elaborated on Chongqing's five core strengths: rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, high-quality educational resources, promising development prospects, and a vibrant living environment. She also outlined ten major initiatives launched to enhance the international student experience, emphasizing, "Moving forward, we will remain committed to providing internationally competitive education and strive to build Chongqing into a premier destination for outstanding global youth to study in China and a top choice for innovation and entrepreneurship."

JIN Ling, Deputy Director-General of the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, delivered a speech. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Mr. Fabio Schina, Consul General of the Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing, followed with remarks highlighting the event's milestone significance in Chongqing's educational internationalization. He praised Chongqing's strong academic foundations, particularly in engineering and medicine, and its robust industry-academia-research networks, which offer unique platforms and favorable conditions for rapid international collaboration. "Academic relations, especially those built through student exchanges, are key elements of cultural dialogue," Fabio stated, echoing a perspective shared by the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, during his visit to China, underscoring the fundamental value of educational exchanges.

Fabio Schina, Consul General of the Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing, delivered a speech. (Photo/DENG Nan)

ZHANG Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, highlighted in her address that "Study in Chongqing" has been one of the six flagship brands promoted globally since the launch of the "Chongqing, a Municipality of Opportunity" campaign in May last year. The initiative has already made its mark in Italy, Peru, Brazil, the United States, and beyond. As a world-class super-sized city currently advancing with robust momentum, Chongqing leverages its strategic position as an inland comprehensive hub of openness. It boasts not only superior geographical advantages, a strong industrial foundation, and rich cultural resources but also a well-developed education system—all creating ample opportunities for international students'growth.

ZHANG Qiong, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, delivered a speech. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Students: Embracing Chongqing Life

Anton, a Russian student from Sichuan International Studies University, recounted his initial visual and sensory awe upon arriving in Chongqing, the life lessons learned while integrating into local life, the challenges and rewards of academic pursuits, and the profound "spiritual connection" he found through studying Chinese characters. Speaking as a storyteller of Chongqing, Anton told global students: "Chongqing, this passionate and vibrant mountain city full of infinite possibilities, is opening its arms. It offers not only excellent platforms like SISU but also a multi-dimensional space for growth."

Anton shares his study abroad life in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Lojain Sulaiman, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Civil Engineering at Chongqing University, emphasized the warmth she experienced and her deep gratitude towards her supervisor. Over six years, alongside her supervisor's academic guidance, she received care from international office staff and even consideration from dormitory staff who remembered her preference for non-spicy food, allowing her to truly feel integrated through countless daily details.

Lojain Sulaiman shares her study abroad life in Chongqing. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Vlogs from other international students further showcased their life experiences. Students from various countries shared glimpses of their daily lives, feeling the city's pulse and experiencing its irreplaceable charm. Their genuine smiles vividly conveyed the international students' affection for Chongqing.

University: Showcasing Global Interaction  

The global live Q&A session became a highlight. Representatives from overseas institutions and prospective students posed practical questions, which leaders from six Chongqing universities addressed directly, effectively showcasing the unique advantages and rich educational resources of studying in Chongqing.

The global live Q&A session became a highlight. (Photo/DENG Nan)

Following this, the launch ceremony for the "Study in Chongqing" global enrollment campaign commenced, with leaders and guests gathered before the screen to jointly ignite the engine for the "Study in Chongqing" global enrollment plan. Witnessed by Chinese and international guests alongside the global audience, six leading universities - Chongqing University, Southwest University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Sichuan International Studies University- took the stage for presentations about the "academic bell," the "educational mission," and the "digital pulse" from different institutions. Six universities, with their six distinct colors, have jointly painted a panoramic picture of "Study in Chongqing."

Southwest University took the stage for presentations. (Photo/DENG Nan)

This promotion served as a vivid review of the fruitful achievements during the first year of the "Study in Chongqing" brand and a reaffirmation of Chongqing's commitment to higher education openness. With the grand launch of the 2025 global enrollment campaign, Chongqing confidently extends a sincere invitation to the world: Studying here is not just an academic pursuit, but an immersive journey into China's dynamic pulse and a shared endeavor to build future dreams. The mountain city has prepared a vast stage, eagerly awaiting global students to arrive and co-create boundless possibilities.

(ZHANG Haiyan and CAI Jieyu, as interns, also contributed to the report.)