For Ngambou Lontsi Gervais, a Cameroonian student who has been studying engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University since 2015, an unexpected benefit of choosing China as his destination for further study was being able to join in a variety of global cultural activities.

He was appointed as a foreign host of the 2020 "Dreams Come True in Zhejiang" event, an annual cultural exchange series to be held in East China's Zhejiang province on the evening of Dec 11.

The cultural gala, usually attended by hundreds of international students in the province, is now in its 14th year.

Every year, international students in Zhejiang are invited to perform dragon dances, Chinese songs, and traditional operas at the event. They are encouraged to draw inspiration from their experiences in the province.

As a host, Gervais said he was under a lot of pressure this year, though he had participated in the event twice. "I will represent my university at the gala and I must do my best. To be a good host, I need to practice my Chinese and also learn some hosting techniques," he said.

He went on to say that the event provides an opportunity for international students to learn about Chinese culture.

Gervais originally came to China to learn about the development of farming machinery in China, which he said could serve as a reference for Cameroon's agricultural development. Now, Gervais said he feels quite accustomed to life in Zhejiang, appreciating the hospitality of the Chinese people and government.

In 2019, there were more than 41,000 foreign students like Gervais studying at colleges and universities in Zhejiang, according to statistics from the provincial department of education.

The "Dreams Come True in Zhejiang" event has attracted many international students interested in Chinese culture over the past decade, and has provided them a platform to showcase their talent.

Zhejiang is always trying to share Chinese culture with international students in an effort to strengthen China's connections with the outside world.