On June 10, 2026, the "Symposium on the Chinese Ballet and Its Dialogue with World Civilizations," along with the concluding report presentation of the research project "The Transfer Effects of Aesthetic Education — A Study of Movement Cues in Emotional Expression in Chinese Ballet," was held at Tsinghua University. The event was guided by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and jointly organized by the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University, the Institute for World Literature and Culture at Tsinghua University, the UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (ICEE), the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, the Art Education Center of Tsinghua University, the Global Industry Institute of Tsinghua University, and the Beijing Universe Ballet Art Center.

The symposium featured in-depth discussions on the theoretical construction of the Chinese Ballet School, pathways for cross-cultural dissemination, and its distinctive value in aesthetic education. Attendees included Peng Gang, Vice President of Tsinghua University; Xie Weihe, Senior Liberal Arts Professor and former Vice President of Tsinghua University; Feng Ying, former Artistic Director of the National Ballet of China; Guan Jianbo, Deputy Director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts; Peng Kaiping, Dean of the Global Industry Institute of Tsinghua University; and Wang Sunyu, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of ICEE. The opening ceremony was hosted by Zou Zhirui, Professor and former Head of the Ballet Department at the Beijing Dance Academy.

In his opening remarks, Professor Peng Gang noted that since ballet was introduced to China, it has blended and evolved with local culture, giving rise to entirely new artistic meanings and forms. Like physical education, aesthetic education carries significant transferable value, capable of nurturing character and enriching one's inner world. He expressed hope that academia and the arts community would continue to deepen their exchange, advancing the artistic expression of Chinese ballet and furthering the fruits of cross-civilizational dialogue and mutual learning.

Remarks by Professor Peng Gang

Speaking during the keynote session, Professor Wang Sunyu stated that engineering shapes the material world, while art nourishes the spiritual world. The "ICEE Ballet Aesthetic Education Program," initiated by ICEE, has allowed engineering students to experience the beauty of ballet firsthand, achieving a cross-disciplinary integration of arts and engineering education. Looking ahead, ICEE will continue to expand the reach of its aesthetic education programs, deepen collaborative innovation between the arts and science and technology, strengthen international aesthetic education exchange through the UNESCO platform, and cultivate well-rounded talent for the new era.

Keynote Address by Professor Wang Sunyu

In his closing remarks, Professor Xie Weihe emphasized that ballet is a unique form of bodily language, and that the core of building a Chinese Ballet School lies in developing a discourse and narrative system that embodies distinctive national characteristics. How to interpret Chinese emotions and convey Chinese artistic sensibility through ballet movement remains an important subject that academia and the arts community must continue to explore in the years ahead.

Closing Remarks by Professor Xie Weihe

The symposium brought together numerous experts and scholars from the fields of dance, academia, education, and cultural institutions. As an academic supporting organization, ICEE will continue to advance the implementation of the "Ballet Aesthetic Education Program," contributing a unique force of arts-engineering integration to the building of a global engineering education community and the shared progress of human civilization.