The festival featured diverse cultural traditions through performances, including Chinese classical dance and traditional Tongan dance. Students from Vietnam, Cameroon, Thailand, Indonesia also performed, showcasing their countries' cultural heritage and traditional attire.

"The idea was to bring our culture and Oceania's heart to Shanghai Ocean University," Finau Paea, a Tongan marine science student, said.

"This festival is about exchanging cultures. We learn from different cultures, and they learn from ours."

"For Tonga, a small Pacific island, collaboration with China offers significant help. We look forward to strengthening bonds between our countries," she said, adding she intends to bring back what she learned in China to her country and teach fishing communities sustainable practices that protect oceans and marine life.

Following the performances, a cultural carnival opened with exhibition areas featuring food, handicrafts, and interactive games. The Lancang-Mekong rice-fish project display demonstrated how integrated agriculture and fishery techniques support poverty alleviation and sustainable development.