Peking University, Sept. 30, 2010: On Sept. 29, the ceremony in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the admission of international students to study in the People's Republic of China was held at PKU Hall. Liu Yandong, China's State Councilor, Yuan Guiren, China's Minister of Education, and Hao Ping, Vice Minister of Education attended the gala.

Also present were PKU Council Chairman Min Weifang, PKU President Zhou Qifeng, Vice Chairman of PKU Council and Vice President Zhang Yan, Vice President Li Yansong, 50 representatives of foreign students from 24 countries, and some of the foreign diplomatic envoys in Beijing.

Liu Yandong, China's State Councilor, at her speech

After visiting the booths of US and Russia and talking with the foreign students at the 7th International Cultural Festival of PKU, Liu Yandong, China's State Councilor, delivered a speech. She pointed out that since 1950, especially since the reform and opening-up, the government of PRC had been paying much attention to the education of foreign students in China and had made remarkable progress.

"Education, a crucial part of communication between different countries and a platform of cooperation, is also an effective way to promote world peace along with the development of all human beings." said Liu. The educational program announced recently had laid great emphasis on the expansion of opening up and the enhancement of internationalization in education to attract more foreign students to study in China.

At the end of her speech, Liu encouraged the foreign students to treasure the enjoyable learning experiences in China, bear in mind the kindness and hospitality of Chinese people, and become an envoy for peace between China and their own countries to make a contribution to the lasting peace and common prosperity of the world.

PKU President Zhou Qifeng at his speech

Mulatu, former Speaker of the Ethiopian parliament and alumnus of PKU, said at the ceremony that he felt very honored and excited when coming back to China and his alma mater again. Looking back over the past 60 years, China had given considerable help to Africa in economy, education, and infrastructure construction. Africa also had firmly stood on the side of China on major political issues. He believed that with the support of the Chinese government there’ll be more African students getting the opportunity of studying in China, which would definitely accelerate the development of Africa.

PKU President Zhou Qifeng warmly welcomed the foreign students in his speech. He said that many foreign students had come here to learn Chinese culture to broaden their horizons and have contributed a lot to the friendship between China and other counties. Now there were more and more foreign students coming to China and the colleges and universities of China also regarded the degree of internationalization as a significant standard of education. As one of the earliest universities that accepted foreign students, PKU would make efforts to provide more chances for foreign students to study at PKU and to make Chinese friends, which would be of great benefit to the strength of peace and development in the world.

During the ceremony, Zhao Jinming, professor of Beijing Language and Culture University, wished that all the foreign students could succeed in their studies and live a pleasant life in China. Tao Side, a US student from Tsinghua University shared his colorful life and what he had gained in China with other students and expressed his hope for a suitable occupation to make contribution to the relationship between the US and China.

Group photo

After the ceremony, five hundred foreign students from different parts of China gave an impressive performance with  Chinese features to the guests, and won loud applause from the audience. Finally, the performance ended  with the song of “Let’s make Toasts, Our Friends."

Extended Reading:

Feast for Cosmopolitan Cultures

Premiere of "Yanyuan Liuyun: International Students of PKU at the World Stage" Held at PKU

Edited by: Chen Miaojuan

Translated by: Cao Yixing

Source: PKU News (Chinese)