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People try Chinese food at the stall of China at the Asian Gourmet Festival on the campus of the Lebanese University in Beirut, Lebanon, April 4, 2019. The Lebanese University held the Asian Gourmet Festival on Thursday to introduce students and youths in the country to the Asian culture. The one-day festival gathered 11 countries which displayed their traditional food, clothes and other products on the campus of the Lebanese University in the capital Beirut. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

BEIRUT, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese University held the Asian Gourmet Festival on Thursday to introduce students and youths in the country to the Asian culture.

The one-day festival gathered 11 countries which displayed their traditional food, clothes and other products on the campus of the Lebanese University in the capital Beirut.

"It is important to introduce new cultures to our young students as it broadens their horizons and expand their knowledge about other countries," Fouad Ayoub, president of the Lebanese University, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the festival.

"This rich festival reflects the depth of relations between Lebanon and Asian countries and the mutual trust that characterizes these ties," Ayoub said.

The festival also included artistic and cultural performances by embassies of several Asian countries in Lebanon as well as a performance of the Lebanese traditional dance "Dabke" by the students of the Lebanese University .

Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said this event is a good opportunity for exchanging ideas, introducing the Asian culture, and promoting mutual understanding.

The 11 countries that participated in the festival are Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.