The 50th Anniversary Forum of Chinese Public Study in the UK will be held, with more than 200 Chinese and British people attending

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and the UK, as well as the 50th anniversary of China's decision to send a study abroad to the UK. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UNITED Kingdom and the 50th anniversary of China's public study in the UK, the European and American Returned Scholars Association will hold a forum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of China's public study in the UK on September 9.

On September 5, the European and American Returned Scholars Association held a media promotion meeting, and Wang Pijun, secretary general of the European and American Returned Scholars Association, and Teng Jianfeng, deputy secretary general, introduced the relevant situation of the forum and answered reporters' questions.

With the theme of "Ushering in a New Era of China-UK Education and Scientific and Technological Cooperation in a New Era", more than 200 important Chinese and British government officials, well-known figures in the education sector, scientists, entrepreneurs and financial figures will be invited to attend, and focus on "scientific and educational cooperation", "digital economy", "financial openness" and other promising areas of China-UK cooperation, conduct mutual discussions and exchanges, and promote pragmatic and effective cooperation.

Three considerations

At present, although the international situation is complex and mankind is facing unprecedented new common challenges, strengthening China-UK people-to-people friendship, expanding people-to-people exchanges, and deepening financial technology cooperation is in line with the development trend of the times and the aspirations of the two peoples.

Wang Pijun said that the hosting of this forum is based on three considerations, one of which is to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the UNITED Kingdom, help the development of China-UK relations, and help the overall diplomatic situation of the party and the state.

He mentioned that on February 7, 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Queen Elizabeth II, pointing out that "this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between China and the UK, and hopes that the two sides will take this as an opportunity to deepen friendship and mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation, jointly promote international solidarity, benefit the two countries and the two peoples, and make new contributions to the international community to jointly cope with global challenges and promote world peace, stability, prosperity and development." On March 25, General Secretary Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Johnson had a telephone conversation, pointing out that "the two sides should focus on strategy and long-term, adhere to mutual respect, strengthen dialogue and exchanges, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with an open and inclusive mindset." In the call, Johnson specifically mentioned that "there are more Chinese students in the UK than any other European country, and the British side is proud of it." "General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on China-UK relations and the positive signal released by Johnson have pointed out the direction, laid the foundation and provided guidance for us to hold the forum."

Second, in order to give full play to the role of the European and American Returned Scholars Association as a "new force of non-governmental diplomacy", under the new situation, build a sustainable carrier and platform to promote exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK.

Wang Pijun pointed out that "striving to become a new force of non-governmental diplomacy" is one of the important requirements of the "three becomes" put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping in his important speech at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the European and American Returned Scholars Association, and the European and American Returned Scholars Association creates a platform from non-governmental channels, gives full play to the advantages of extensive contacts between overseas students, and enhances mutual understanding, friendship and trust between the Chinese and British people, which is an important measure to reflect the value and responsibility of the European and American Returned Scholars Association's "civilian diplomatic force".

Third, in order to give play to the role of overseas students as "non-governmental ambassadors of friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries", tell Chinese stories well and spread Chinese voices.

In 1972, China and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, and the relations between the two countries began a new era. Soon after, under the direct impetus of Premier Zhou Enlai, 16 Chinese young people embarked on a study abroad trip in Britain, opening a new chapter in the exchange of study abroad between China and the United Kingdom. In the past 50 years, the scale of international students between China and the UK has developed unprecedentedly, and the number of Chinese students studying in the UK has grown from 16 in the early days of the establishment of diplomatic relations to more than 220,000 students in the UK at present, and the scale of British students in China has reached nearly 20,000.

International students from China and the UK are witnesses, participants and contributors to Sino-British relations, and the development of friendly relations between China and the UK is inseparable from the efforts of people of insight, including study abroad personnel, to promote and jointly safeguard it.

Wang Pijun stressed, "Telling these stories well is of great significance to enhancing mutual understanding and cognition between the two peoples and promoting the development of China-UK relations." ”

High specifications

The forum will be conducted in a multi-section mode of "online and offline" combination and "keynote speech + parallel forum". The opening ceremony will feature two sessions, namely, a speech by a leader and a keynote speech, which will invite chinese and British dignitaries, scientists, entrepreneurs and authoritative experts and scholars in related fields to share their views and experiences and wisdom around the theme.

The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) noted that the forum has high specifications and high levels, and big names in various fields have gathered.

Jim McDonald, Dean of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Sir Kath Bonet, former President of the University of Sheffield and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Schmidt Scholars Foundation, Bill Rothko, Academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Member of the European Academy of Sciences, as well as Richard Hobbes, Executive President of the University of Oxford and Academician of the British Academy of Medical Sciences, Collin Railon, President of Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, Colin Lylton, President of Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom. Entrepreneurs such as Bailey and other university presidents and Admin, vice president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will attend the meeting.

In terms of Chinese guests, the organizer invited more than 10 ministerial leaders and academicians. Liu Limin, President of the China Education Association for International Exchanges and Vice President of the Association of European and American Returned Scholars (China Association of Returned Overseas Students), Yan Aoshuang, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress and Vice President of the European and American Returned Scholars Association (China Association of Returned Scholars), Long Yongtu, former Vice Minister of foreign trade and Economic Cooperation and Chief Negotiator of China's Accession to the WTO, Liu Mingkang, former Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, Zhang Zongyi, President of Xiamen University and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Zhou Wenzhong, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liu Shijin, former Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia Council, and President of the European and American Returned Scholars Association in the UK. Gao Fu, deputy director of the Natural Science Foundation of China and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Qi Bin, deputy general manager of CIC, will attend the relevant forum and exchange views with the British side.

In addition to relevant arrangements such as speeches and speeches, the format design of the forum is more professional and interactive, for example, an online dialogue and exchange activity between Chinese and British youth was specially designed and planned in the Sino-British Education Sub-Forum; At the Financial Open Sub-Forum, the British-Chinese Chamber of Commerce also set up a sub-venue in London, which was connected simultaneously...

Wang Pijun also expressed his expectations for the expected results of the forum at the promotion meeting, saying that he hoped to show the world a credible, lovely and respectable image of China, enhance Sino-foreign friendship, forge fruitful practical results of win-win cooperation, and present gifts to the party's 20th national victory.