On November 30, 2024, the 2nd Sino-Turkish Food Culture Festival was successfully held, hosted jointly by the Embassy of People's Republic of China in the Republic of Türkiye and the Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University. The event is part of the "Promoting the Jiageng Spirit, Composing a Silk Road Chapter" China Day Cultural Festival series. Ms. Sun Wei, the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ömer Delialioğlu, Advisor to the President of Middle East Technical University and Co-Director of Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University, Instr. Dr. Gökçe Erkan, Assistant Director of School of Foreign Languages of METU, İftar Yörükoğlu, Section Chief of Academic Assignment Directorate of Personnel Department of METU, Dr. Derem Çanga, Assistant Chair of Department of Modern Languages of METU, attended the event, and 57 students from Middle East Technical University, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University and Ankara University, as well as Chinese exchange students in Ankara participated. Focusing on the theme of "Food and Cultural Exchange", this event featured five sessions: introduction to Chinese and Turkish cuisine, food tasting, selection of "Star Dish of the Day", award ceremony and exchange of gifts.

At the beginning of the event, Prof. Dr. Ömer Delialioğlu delivered a speech, emphasizing that as important countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Türkiye share a long history of friendly exchanges. He noted that cuisine is a key component of both cultures, and sharing food can bring people closer while deepening mutual understanding of each other's languages and cultures. He hopes that the event would serve as a platform for exchanges between Chinese and Turkish youth. Counselor Sun Wei, in her address, highlighted that Middle East Technical University is one of the most outstanding universities in Türkiye and praised METU Confucius Institute's achievements in Chinese language education and cultural exchanges over the years. She expects more Turkish youth to experience the charm of Chinese culture, learn Chinese language, and contribute to the friendship between China and Türkiye.

During the culinary presentations, Turkish students introduced traditional dishes, such as kebabs, pide, and baklava. Following this, Chinese chef Wang Zhongyan presented four Chinese dishes: dumplings, mahua (fried dough twists), Kung Pao Chicken, and Mapo Tofu. Through vivid descriptions and images, the presenters shared the preparation processes and cultural backgrounds of these dishes. Participants then tasted both Chinese and Turkish cuisines, experiencing the delightful communication and surprise brought by different cultures.

A highlight of the event was the selection of selection of "Star Dish of the Day". Participants voted for their favorite Chinese and Turkish dishes. Winners received honorary certificates and souvenirs during the award ceremony. The gift exchange session brought the atmosphere of the event to a climax, as students expressed appreciation and blessings for each other's cultures through thoughtful gifts.

The Sino-Turkish Food Culture Festival provided a platform for Chinese and Turkish students to engage in cultural exchange and deepen their understanding of each other's culinary traditions, enhancing cross-cultural understanding and friendship. Many students remarked that the event gave them a deeper appreciation of the commonalities between Chinese and Turkish cultures and looked forward to participating in more similar activities in the future.