Peking University, Beijing, May 18^th, 2009: Peking University’s Macao Culture Communication Association (MCCA) and Macanese Chinese Student Union jointly hosted the “2009 National University Forum for Macanese Students”. The opening ceremony was held in PKU Centennial Commemorative Hall’s multi-function room.

The opening ceremony

The guests included Ms. Hua Jian, deputy director of the Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council and Mr. Zhang XueQian, director of Beijing Office of the central government’s liaison office in Macao Special Administrative Region. Audiences were Macanese student representatives from mainland universities and representatives from student associations of Peking University.

Mr. Li Yansong, assistant to President of Peking University delivered sincere thanks to the organizing parties for hosting the event, the financially supporting foundations and the eager participating Macanese students.

This student forum centers upon “One Country, Two Systems” and “Macanese Administrating Macao”; participants mainly discussed Macao’s political, economical and educational development during the past ten years and in future as well as the role of university students in promoting the exchange between the Mainland and Macanese people.

Chairman of the Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, Mr. Huo ShiPing, PKU Hong Kong and Macao Research Center’s Professor Xu YaMin, and President of Macau’s Chinese Education Association Li PeiLin all expressed their views on these issues.

Mr. Huo ShiPing started his speech with stories of university students rushing to help with the alleviation of WenChuan Earthquake. He encouraged the Macanese students in Beijing to be attentive to society and its needs. Huo sincerely wished that the Macanese students would cherish their time at Peking University and to gain as much knowledge and experience in the local history, culture, customs and way of thinking. Young students should pay enough hard work for their success in future, hence to be the pillar of their time and society.

Professor Xu YaMin summarized the great achievements during the ten years after Macao’s return to the motherland in the perspective of improvement in environmental protection and valuable experiences gained by the government of Macao Special Administrative Region. Finally Mr. Li PeiLin expressed his feelings and expectations for this forum with four words: “gratefulness”, “gratification”, “learning” and “expectation”.

After the speeches by guests, the students actively asked questions and expressed their views on development of Macanese universities and growth of Macanese students.

It is known that “2009 National University Forum for Macanese Students” lasts from May 16^th to 17^th. More wonderful activities have been arranged during the following two and a half days for the Macanese youth, including visiting the Olympic Park, Water Cube and publishing the memorial essay collection.

This event was sponsored by Beijing Office of Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, Macao’s Chinese Education Association, Peking University and XinHua Corporation. The Forum took the opportunity of the 10^th year of Macao’s return to the motherland to invite specialists and scholars from Macao and the mainland to communicate with the students, hoping to promote students’ understanding of Macao’s development over the past ten years.