Peking University, Mar. 12, 2011: Maryan Street, a senior New Zealand front-bencher, visited PKU on March 4.
Street is a List Member of Parliament for the New Zealand Labor Party. She also serves as Labor Spokesperson on Trade and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs & Overseas Development.
Among the guests were Jordan King, parliamentary assistant and member of Young Labor, and Analiese Jackson, president of Young Labor.
Professor Liu Shusen, deputy dean of PKU School of Foreign Languages and director of PKU New Zealand Center, and Professor Liu Hongzhong, secretary of the center, welcomed the delegation at the Tan Siu Lin Center for International Studies.
The host held a discussion with the visiting delegation on topics such as higher education, bilateral issues, and the role mass media played for a country’s global publicity. Prof. Liu appreciated their visit and briefed the guests about Peking University and the New Zealand Center.
Street said that she was excited as she went over an album about PKU students in New Zealand. Their photos were taken when they attended a summer school there. Students at the center shared their experience and thoughts about their study and life in New Zealand. This 3-year-old summer program is attracting an increasing number of students, according to the center. Various activities were arranged in the program, among which the “home stay” especially helped students to better get immersed in the communities and cultures.
"I appreciate it very much and such program would greatly benefit students of both countries,” Street responded. “I hope more PKU students could get involved in it.”
Background info:
Maryan Street was born in New Plymouth on April 5, 1955. In 1984, she joined the Labor Party. She was president of Labor Party from 1993 to 1995 and an MP in 2005. Now she is New Zealand Labor List MP, spokesperson on trade, spokesperson for foreign affairs, and spokesperson for overseas development.
Peking University New Zealand Center was inaugurated in March 2007 after three years' preparation. Since then, the center has played an indispensable role for enhancing the cooperation between the two countries. Besides the summer program, its student-oriented activities also include a blog competition “New Zealand in My Eyes” and joint performances by student troupes of PKU and the University of Auckland.
Translated by: Liu Lu
Edited by: Jacques
Source: Office of International Relations
