PekingUniversity,May 27th,2009: PKU’s School of Journalism and Communication received a generous gift on its 8th anniversary. Meng Minwei, one of Hong Kong’s patriot-businessmen, provided financial assistance for the new SJC building and attended the ground breaking ceremony. Mr. Meng’s representative, XinXing Group representative in Beijing Mr. Li Changpeng, PKU President Academician Zhou Qifeng, former President Academician Xu Zhihong, and Dean of SJC Professor Shao Huazewere present at the ceremony to celebrate and break ground. The ceremony was held by PKU’s news spokesman, SJC party secretary Zhao Weimin.
New SJC building ground breaking ceremony
The new SJC building received sizeable financial assistance from Meng Minwei, who donated twenty million RMBfor the construction of the new building despite the poor global economic conditions. For man years, Meng has paid close attention to PKU’s development. He created the “XinXing Education and Charity Fund” early on in 1984 which to this day has raised over 500 million Yuan. In 1997 Meng donated one million US dollars to PKU through the “XinXing Education and Charity Fund” and established the “Peking University Meng Minwei International Exchange Fund”.
PKU PresidentZhou Qifengspeaking
President Zhou Qifeng was the first to speak on behalf of PKU. Zhou complimented Meng for his generosity and showed appreciation and respect for Meng’s long-term contribution to the development of China and PKU’s education business. President Zhou acknowledged the effort and improvement SJC has made since its establishment eight years ago, at the same time, he encourages the students and teacher of SJC to continue to overcome many difficulties and obstacles to become a world first class School of Journalism and Communication.
Dean of SJC Professor Shao Huazegiving his speech
Professor Shao Huaze’s speech recollected the history of SJC as well as analyzing the opportunities and challenges SJC faces under today’s circumstances. Shao pointed out, now is the best time for the development of Journalism and Communication in China, the ground breaking of a new building marks a new beginning for SJC, the school should take this special opportunity to give a boost for our development.
XinXing Group representative Li Changpeng giving a speech
Li ChangPeng,representativeof XinXing Group in Beijing gave a speech on behalf ofMeng, congratulating SJC for her eighth anniversary. Li shared Meng Minwei’s qualities with the audience, his sense of “cherishing” and “integrity”. Li mentioned how Meng would often use the example of the South West United University during the War of Resistance against Japan to encourage youth to cherish their opportunities so that they can be a greater asset to their country in the future. Li hopes that the building will be completed soon to train more talented journalists for China.
President Zhou sincerely invites Mr. Meng Minwei to be a member in the SJC Development Committee
PKU’s School of Journalism and Communication was established in 2001 where as PKU’s journalism education and research goes as far back as the early 20th century. At the time, PKU was among the first to provide Journalism courses, the first to have a Journalism Research Team- the PKU Journalism Research Society and also published the first monograph and journal on Journalism in China. These pioneering actions have placed PKU in a special status position in China’s contemporary journalism education and research fields. In only eight years, PKU’s SJC has become an important base for the country’s journalism education and research and the home to many talented Journalists.
PKU SJC New Building Ground Breaking Ceremony
Translated by: Connie Chang
Edited by: Wang Yi
