On September 17, the Belt and Road School (BRS) of Beijing Normal University (BNU) held the opening ceremony and orientation for the 2025 Master’s Program for Developing Countries at the university’s Changping Campus. The event brought together faculty representatives, heads of relevant university departments, officers from the Changping Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, and 43 new students from 22 countries.

The ceremony was hosted by Ma Ningzhi, Assistant to the Dean and Head of the Beijing Teaching Department. On behalf of the school, she warmly welcomed the new students and congratulated them on embarking on a new journey of study and exchange at BNU. Reviewing the school’s development and the program’s fruitful achievements, she encouraged the students to shoulder the mission of advancing global development—not only to gain knowledge at BNU but also to actively participate in the great practice of building the Belt and Road, becoming vital bridges between China and the world.

Prof. Carsten Herrmann-Pillath, Permanent Fellow at the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, University of Erfurt, addressed the students as faculty representative. He urged them to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual understanding in this rapidly changing era, to deepen friendship among nations, and to cherish this opportunity to learn about China, fostering personal growth and transformation.

Mengyu Zhang, Director of Foreign Affairs at BRS, emphasized that joining the Master’s Program for Developing Countries marks not only the beginning of a new academic year but also the integration into a vibrant global community. She noted that the program offers students firsthand exposure to China’s dynamic development, opportunities for meaningful dialogue with China, and a platform to cultivate leadership on the global stage.

New student representatives Mbeha David Mwiya from Namibia and Hamid Ziyad Faraj from Iraq also shared their reflections. Mwiya expressed gratitude to the foreign aid degree program for providing high-quality education opportunities for students from developing countries, saying he looked forward to exploring China’s economic, cultural, and developmental experience through BNU’s diverse learning resources. Faraj praised the remarkable progress achieved under the Belt and Road Initiative and said he hoped to learn from China’s wisdom in economic management and governance, contributing actively to Belt and Road cooperation.

During the orientation session, Officer Wang Nan from the Internal Security Division of the Changping Public Security Bureau gave a comprehensive lecture on campus safety, personal and property security, and fire prevention.

The opening ceremony and orientation not only marked the beginning of a new academic journey but also built a bridge for mutual learning among students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Following the core philosophy of “Cognition–Understanding–Practice,” the Master’s Program for Developing Countries integrates theoretical learning with field research and project experience. It aims to foster deep understanding and practical engagement with the Belt and Road Initiative, preparing future leaders of developing countries to serve as key contributors to cooperation and exchange between China and their home nations.