Italian student in Chongqing shows off local dialect at graduation ceremony

[Video by Deng Rui]

An Italian student stole the show with his fluent local dialect during a speech at the Chongqing University graduation ceremony on Sunday and the video has drawn millions of hits on social media in China.

As a representative of overseas graduates of the university, Buttarello Lorenzo was invited to deliver a speech in Chinese. After studying and working in Chongqing for six years, he can speak good Chinese as well as local dialect.

Lorenzo arrived in Chongqing in 2014 and studied the Chinese language for one year at Chongqing University. After working for a while, he returned to the university and earned a master's degree in business management this year.

"How time flies and I have been in Chongqing for six years," he said in Chongqing dialect during the speech.

"I have been to every corner of the city and become a real Chongqing boy."

He picked up the dialect from street talk and he even kept notes on the slang.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lorenzo chose to stay in Chongqing.

"I have witnessed the joint efforts of Chinese people fighting against the virus. I have also seen Italy and China work together to overcome the difficulties. It reminds me of a saying in Latin: 'Virtus unita fortior'. Let's unite to create a better future together."

He wished to find a job in international cultural exchange in Chongqing after graduation.