A Bridge of Promise: Their Stories① | My exchange experience at VIVES broadened my horizon

The year 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the sister-province relationship between Zhejiang Province and West Flanders, Belgium. Following the release of the documentary A Bridge of Promise by Zhejiang Daily Press Group, Zhejiang International Communication Center, and Belgian Focus & WTV, a series of short videos titled A Bridge of Promise: Their Stories has been launched. These videos showcase the achievements and heartwarming stories of cooperation between the two provinces.

The first episode focuses on education. The two provinces have made education a key chapter in their cooperation, providing a platform for young people to deepen their understanding of each other's cultures.

For the past 15 years, Hangzhou Normal University and VIVES University of Applied Sciences have maintained close and continuous exchanges. In March 2025, a group of 133 students from VIVES University of Applied Sciences visited Hangzhou Normal University. They learned calligraphy, enjoyed Yueju Opera, practiced martial arts, and celebrated a Chinese student's birthday together at a hot pot restaurant.

Li Yulinyi, a student majoring in Financial Engineering at the School of Economics, Hangzhou Normal University, participated in an exchange program in Belgium from September 2023 to January 2024. "My exchange experience at VlVES really broadened my international horizon. I also made friends from many countries, including Romania and the Netherlands," Li said. "We still keep in touch and exchange greetings during the Chinese New Year."

2025年是浙江省和比利时西弗兰德省结好25周年。浙江日报报业集I团、浙江省国际传播中心联合比利时Focus&WTV，推出专题片《风雨架桥人》后，又推出系列短视频《架桥人说》，以亲历者讲述的方式，展现两省合作成果和温暖故事。首期视频，聚焦教育领域。两省把教育写进重要篇章，为年轻人提供了解彼此文化的平台。

杭州师范大学与比利时弗维斯应用科技大学已持续开展校际互访15年。2025年3月，弗维斯应用科技大学133人赴杭州师范大学访学。他们学习书法、听越剧、练武术，一起吃着火锅为中国学生庆祝生日。杭师大经济学院金融工程专业的学生李雨霖仪，曾于2023年9月至2024年1月前往比利时进行交换学习。“这段经历让我拓宽了国际视野，也结识了来自罗马尼亚、荷兰等多国的朋友，”李雨霖仪回忆，“我们至今保持联系，每逢春节互送祝福。”