Sias International University held the opening ceremony of its 14th Reading Festival on October 24. The annual festival is held to encourage students to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, national pride, and socialist values. The ceremony was held at the entrance to the library.

Sias President, Chen Sikun, Executive President, Wang Jialin, Deputy Party Secretary, Li Huafeng, Vice President, Wu Hua, and Assistant Principal, Guo Xuede, were among the leaders present at the opening ceremony. Leaders of the Administrative Office, Supervision & Audit Office, Academic Affairs Office, Communist Youth League, Organization & United Front Work Department, the School of International Education, and the School of Electronics & Information Engineering, were also present. The ceremony was attended by students, teachers, and representatives of residential colleges, FITI (Future Information Technology Institute), and the parental supervisory committee. The Deputy Director of the Student Affairs Office, Chu Jinjin, presided over the ceremony.

Executive President, Wang Jialin, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 14th Reading Festival, delivered a speech and spoke about the activities at the festival. He said that this year's festival was organized by the library, Communist Youth League, and the Academic Affairs Office. The goal, he said, was to make students appreciate the classics and nurture an interest in reading.

The 14th Reading Festival will continue until November 14, during which a number of events will be held, including promotional activities in the Library, a 24-hour reading challenge, recitation contests, debates, and cultural activities.

Teachers' representative, Wu Chunjie, spoke about the Chinese classics and the value of reading such works. She said that she hoped that students would learn to make a habit of reading, as it would help them appreciate diverse cultures. Student representative, An Haodi, spoke about the positive impact and resultant broadening of one's horizons that reading would have.

Speaking on behalf of the Organizing Committee, and as its Chairman, President Chen Sikun thanked the teachers and students who had helped organize the range of activities to be held during the Reading Festival. He said that a reading culture determined the direction and quality of the nation's development, and a person's reading habits determined their achievements and performance. He said that Sias had always advocated cultural activities and had aimed to promote an atmosphere of reading, not just in the sphere of academics. He said that he hoped that students would take this Reading Festival as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.

The Dean of the Zhi Shan Residential College, Chen Weihang, presented awards and also spoke about the many activities that are scheduled for the 14th Reading Festival.

Chu Jinjin then announced the official opening of the 14th Reading Festival. This was followed by a traditional Dragon Dance and Lion Dance performance by students from the School of Physical Education.