“I was deeply moved seeing colleagues from so many countries and cultures singing together.” “I feel very happy because I see the cooperative ties between countries are constantly strengthening.” “The technology of the China Southern Power Grid(CSG) is very advanced and I am impressed.” … These heartfelt praises came from the first “Cultural Integration Month” series of activities of CSG. This cultural feast brought together employees from China, Laos, Vietnam, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and other countries. It not only resonated deeply with participants but also injected new momentum into the company’s international development through cultural exchange.
In September this year, CSG carefully planned and launched the first “Cultural Integration Month”. The company also released guidelines on cultural integration and established a comprehensive management framework to put them into practice. The event took the Chinese traditional festival Mid-Autumn Festival as an opportunity to connect a series of activities such as Chinese tea culture learning, international social etiquette counseling, CSG corporate culture concept propaganda and technical management exchanges. It fully and immersively showcases the charm of traditional Chinese culture and the core of CSG’s corporate culture, aiming to drive improvements in management efficiency through deep cultural integration.
A Story That Started with a Cup of Tea, a Mooncake, and a Football Game
The ice was broken with the aroma of tea and the sweetness of mooncakes. In the relaxed and enjoyable learning experience session, Chinese and foreign employees sat together, not as formal colleagues in a meeting, but as curious explorers. Longxai XAIYASAN, a Laotian employee of the Operation and Maintenance Department of Nam River Company of CSG, touched the warm tea set for the first time and learned to appreciate the mellow and sweet taste of Chinese tea under the guidance of a tea artist. On the other side, Chúc Mừng Xuân Mới, a Vietnamese employee of Vietnam Vinh Tan 1 Power Company, and her colleagues are concentrating on making mooncakes.
“I like sweet things because sweetness represents happiness, just like the taste of the mooncakes we made today.” Chúc Mừng Xuân Mới held up the mooncake with the words “Zhongqiu” printed on it, with a smile on her face. “Making it myself allowed me to experience the Chinese concept of ‘reunion’ very tangibly.”
At the same time, football and table tennis matches were passionately played between Peruvian employees of CSG and employees of Shenzhen Power Supply. Nestor Guerrero, a Peruvian employee, said happily: “I have played football before, but this is my first time playing table tennis. Both sports require a high level of physical coordination. Today’s friendly match was truly exciting. We all respected each other, the players worked together in unity, and played with style.”
“Beauty in common”: Cultures from different countries bloom on the stage
The cultural performance was undoubtedly the highlight of Cultural Integration Month. Under the backdrop of stage lights, an audio-visual feast with the theme of “Each values its own beauty”, “Beauty in common” and “Universal Harmony” slowly unfolds.
The melodious and graceful tones of “Mo Li Hua” is interwoven with the classic melody of “Auld Lang Syne”; the prosperous Tang Dynasty atmosphere of “Chang An” dialogues with the exotic customs of “Peru is With You” and “El Cóndor Pasa”; the fiery passion of multilingual song medleys like “See Tinh” blended with the warm rendition of “A Family of Love and Harmony.”
Among the most moving moments were the mini-musicals, such as “Love Shines” and “The Love Story of Yongxin,” adapted from real stories and performed jointly by Chinese and foreign employees. These performances not only showcased the integration of diverse arts but also vividly illustrated the openness and inclusiveness of CSG’s “Knowledge and Action Culture,” effectively uniting Chinese and international staff to advance the high-quality development of international business.
“At this cultural performance, I sang the song ‘Champa,’ showcasing Laos culture, and the audience responded with warm applause. The understanding and interest in the eyes of my foreign colleagues filled me with immense pride,” shared Longxai XAIYASAN. “Such activities transform us from mere workplace colleagues into confidants in culture, making us more joyful and united.” At this moment, culture is no longer an abstract symbol but a tangible, perceptible, and resonant force of warmth.
“This was my first time in China, and I had the opportunity to take the stage to sing two songs, ‘Slowly’ and ‘El Cóndor Pasa.’ I am truly delighted,” exclaimed Andrea Prieto, a Venezuelan employee from the KILO project in Chile. “The CSG family brings together diverse cultures, creating a vibrant and colorful environment where we appreciate each other’s cultures. Even though we don’t speak the same language, I was deeply moved. Through each song, we bridged the distance between us.”
Unity of Knowledge and Action: Technical Exchange Paving the Way for Management Enhancement
The ultimate goal of cultural integration is to drive management improvement and business collaboration. During the training and exchange sessions, foreign employees from CSG’s Pluz Energía Perú S.A.A. visited the “heartlands” of the Shenzhen and Guangzhou Power Supply Bureaus. In the dispatch centers, the digital production support systems for transmission, transformation, and distribution displayed the real-time operational status of grid equipment. At the customer service centers, “AI+” smart services efficiently handled massive volumes of demands.
“What surprised me the most is how advanced the technological development of CSG has become, particularly in the application of artificial intelligence and big data for management, which has reached an exceptionally high level,” said Claudio Valentino Navarrete Vera, intently watching the screens and engaging in in-depth discussions with Chinese engineers. “Our biggest challenge now is how to efficiently manage massive amounts of information. I aim to apply what I’ve seen and learned here to our future work as much as possible.” This “cultural dialogue” in the technical field has turned the innovative practices of CSG into a shared asset for employees worldwide, paving the way for management enhancement.
Although the first “Cultural Integration Month” has concluded, the seeds of understanding, respect, and cooperation it sowed are taking root and sprouting within CSG. This was not just a spectacular event but also a profound management practice. It demonstrates that when cultural integration serves as a lubricant and catalyst for management, it can transcend language and geographical barriers, gather global wisdom, and form a powerful synergy for development.