On the afternoon of January 30th, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his delegation visited Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. At the Mid-Lake Pavilion, they paused to view themed lanterns designed by students from the Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, engaging with the students in warm interaction. This cultural exchange not only served as a vivid demonstration of Sino-UK educational and cultural engagement but also highlighted the vibrancy and vitality of Donghua University students as envoys of cultural exchange between the two countries.
Keir Starmer in warm exchange with student representatives
During the exchange, Donghua University student representatives Dai Chenyue, Dai Feiling, Li Xinwei, and Zhang Haoyang provided Prime Minister Starmer with a detailed introduction to the design concepts and creative details of their lantern artworks. The lanterns ingeniously incorporated iconic British elements—including London's red double-decker bus, Scotland's Glenfinnan Viaduct, and Larry the Cat, the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at Downing Street—alongside a horse-head shape adorned with Scottish tartan. This innovative fusion of traditional Chinese lantern craftsmanship with British cultural symbols resulted in works that are creatively compelling, artistically touching, and culturally resonant.
Student-designed lantern artworks on display
During the interaction, Prime Minister Starmer engaged with the students' creative designs, which seamlessly blended Chinese and British cultural elements, showing keen interest. He expressed his amusement and said, "I really wish I could take these exquisite works back to the UK," and spoke highly of the artworks for their artistic quality and profound significance in facilitating cultural dialogue, fully acknowledging the creativity and sense of mission demonstrated by the younger generation in cross-cultural exchanges. This visit to the Mid-Lake Pavilion, with the lanterns serving as a vibrant link, positioned the students of Donghua University as living bridges for Sino-UK cultural exchange. Through their creative designs, the students built a conduit for cultural communication, reflecting not only the effective outcomes of Donghua University's international talent cultivation but also further promoting in-depth dialogue between China and the UK in the realms of fashion creative education and culture.
Group photo of faculty and students
The Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation is a Sino-foreign cooperative education institution established by Donghua University and the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the field of fashion and creativity. The College has been honored with the "China-Scotland Education Innovation Award," setting a benchmark for in-depth cooperation in education between China and the UK. Moving forward, Donghua University will continue to leverage the advantages of such Sino-foreign partnerships, deepen collaboration and exchange with UK higher education institutions, and cultivate more young talents with a global vision and cultural confidence, continuously injecting youthful vitality into Sino-UK cultural exchange and practical cooperation.
