With spring in full bloom, the campus is filled with the scent of books. At the 2026 “Scholarly ZJU” Reading Culture Festival held recently, Sudanese international student ABUBAKER ELSIDDIG AHMED ELMUSTAFA ELSHEIKH HAYATY was invited as a student representative to witness this important campus cultural event.At the ceremony, ABUBAKER received a selection of books from University President MA YANMING, and together with university leaders, reading mentors, and other student representatives, he helped launch the 2026 Reading Culture Festival themed “Wenrun Qiushi, Scholarly ZJU.”  

Through books as a bridge, ABUBAKER experienced the richness of Chinese culture on campus, while also showing how international students actively engage in campus life and enjoy the spirit of “Reading China.”  

ABUBAKER is from Sudan and is a 2023 PhD student in the “New Sinology Program,” majoring in Journalism and Communication. Alongside his research, he works with the Zhejiang International Communication Center as a global ambassador for Chinese culture.Ahead of the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference, President Xi Jinping replied to young Sinologists, encouraging them to serve as bridges between Chinese and global civilizations. As one of the recipients of the reply, ABUBAKER was invited to speak at the conference in November 2025, where he shared his academic insights and stories about China.