In March 2021, Tsinghua Latin America Center and Center for Global Competence Development jointly launched theactivity of "Big Differences of the World - Chile".Four activities with different themes were organized, which presented the remotest country of the world - Chile -to the students.

The Center specially invited prof. Li Ziying,vicedirector of Academy of Regional and Global Governanceand and vicedirector of faculty of Hispanic and Portuguese Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University,to give a speech at the first and second event,sharing Chile's traditional culture, historical evolution, economic development and political system.For the third activity, the Center invited prof. Sun Xintang,professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, visiting professor at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Chile, and who has been living in Chile for many years, and Qin Quan,Tsinghua alumnus, to share their personal experiences in Chile.For the last activity,Yang Bin, Ph.D. in arts who graduated from the Media Arts and Culture Research Center of Communication University of China, was invited togive an analysis ofthe classic Chilean movie " Hunt for Neruda".

Participants of the activity

Prof. Li Ziying started with a wonderful video. Combined with a large number of pictures,shepresentedthe famous cities Santiago and Valparaiso, the history of Chile's territory, Easter Island and Chilean dance, red wine and Neruda's poems, etc,.then she answered questions about Latin American books, Chile's military power, Chilean culture in whichthe students were interested. She followed the development track of Chilean history, introduced the politics and economyduring the period of President Allende, Augusto Pinochet, Chilean democratic transformation and practical cooperation between China and Chile. In addition,she had alively discussion with the students on the topics of educational development, characteristic architecture, economic strength, tourism and the national character, etc.

Prof. Sun Xintang talked about his observations on Chile, based on his personal life experience,such as Chilean people's hospitality, Neruda's experience in China,and his influence on China-Chile relations.

Qin Quan, a Tsinghua alumnus, shared some famous tourist attractions and Chilean gastronomy with students.

Dr.Yang Bin analyzed a classic Chilean film "Hunt for Neruda".He talked of Neruda from the perspectives of a poet, a revolutionary, a diplomat and a fugitive. He introduced Neruda's extraordinary life in detail, and analyzed the film's four important narrative levels under the title "Neruda's Labyrinth". During the interactive session, the students and Dr.Yang had a heated discussion on how to understand the shooting style of Latin American and Hollywood films,and how to control commercial and artistic elements in movies.

These four events with different themes, stirring up a Latin American whirlwind in the hearts of the students.They were interested in this mysterious and remote Latin American country. This activity has also strengthened their understanding of the world's diverse cultures, broaden their horizons,improved the thier ability to understand and communicate between different cultures.