President Xi Jinping's wife Peng Liyuan sent a congratulatory letter to the inauguration ceremony of the Tianjin Juilliard College campus on the 26th.
Peng Liyuan said that with the joint efforts of China and the United States, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard College of the United States have carried out high-level art cooperation in running schools, adding a new platform for promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. Art is a bridge that crosses national borders and connects people's hearts and minds. Strengthening educational cooperation between China and the United States is conducive to cultivating more outstanding talents, enhancing cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and disseminating art and friendship. It is hoped that China and the United States will extensively carry out people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual understanding between the two peoples, and inject impetus into the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
The Tianjin Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard Institute of the United States have cooperated to establish the Tianjin Juilliard School and the Tianjin Conservatory of Music Juilliard Institute, and the campus inauguration ceremony was held in our city on the same day.
Li Hongzhong, secretary of the municipal party committee, attended and read a congratulatory letter. Liao Guoxun, deputy secretary of the municipal party committee and mayor, presented the certificate of "Honorary Citizen of Tianjin" to the honorary dean of the Juilliard School and chief China affairs officer of the United States, Polich. Cui Tiankai, former Chinese ambassador to the United States, Tian Xuejun, vice minister of education, and Cao Xiaohong, vice chairman of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered speeches.
Cui Tiankai said that the Juilliard School has deep roots with China. During President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States in September 2015, Professor Peng Liyuan visited the Juilliard School in New York, witnessed the inauguration of the Juilliard Institute of Music at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and personally guided and demonstrated the students who sang "Little River Flowing Water", hoping that China and the United States would play the beautiful melody of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in a richer form and more pragmatic actions. The establishment of the Juilliard School in Tianjin once again proves the expectations of the two peoples for deepening mutual understanding and expanding exchanges and cooperation.
Tian Xuejun said that the cooperation between the Tianjin Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard School fully proves that Sino-US educational exchanges and cooperation are mutually beneficial and win-win, with strong momentum and resilience. The Ministry of Education will, as always, support Tianjin to take the initiative to build a cooperation platform for friendly exchanges between Chinese and foreign education, and carry out high-level cooperation with world-class resources to run schools. It is hoped that the college can become a cradle for cultivating outstanding talents, better play the role of a bridge and link for people-to-people exchanges, and make positive contributions to promoting understanding and friendship between the chinese and American peoples, especially young people.
Cao Xiaohong said that Tianjin Juilliard School is a landmark achievement of Sino-US people-to-people exchanges. From the planning of the project, the design start to the use, the wisdom and strength of all parties are condensed, and it is the result of the cooperation and unremitting efforts of each team. This high-calibre music hall has excellent teachers, facilities and teaching environment. Tianjin will work with all parties in China and the United States to spare no effort to do a good job in the future, strive to cultivate more top artists active in the international arena, and contribute to promoting exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.
Polich said the inauguration of the Tianjin Juilliard School is a milestone in bringing Julia's tradition of excellence and creativity to China. Today I am an honorary citizen of Tianjin, and as a member of this outstanding city, I feel extremely honored and hope to influence the hearts of people around the world with the positive energy of music education and performing arts.
Bruce Kofner, President of the Juilliard School Council, Dean Vadouin, Architect Charles Renfrew, and Advisory Board Member Renee Fleming delivered speeches through video to express their heartfelt congratulations on the completion of the College. Yu Long, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Tianjin Juilliard College, and Wang Hongwei, Vice President of Tianjin Conservatory of Music, expressed their desire to cultivate more outstanding artistic talents with international vision and national responsibility in their speeches.
In the evening, Tianjin Juilliard School held a special concert, artists from China and the United States and teachers and students of the college presented to the audience "American Festival Overture" and "Little River Flowing Water" in the symphonic suite "Yanhuang Style", and the beautiful melody caused bursts of applause at the scene.
Tianjin Juilliard School is the first cooperative school project carried out in New York in the 100 years since the establishment of the international top art school, juilliard school, and the only overseas branch, with pre-university education, continuing education and public art education.
Municipal leaders Wang Tingkai and Wang Xu and Meng Qingsong, secretary general of the municipal government, attended the above activities.
Source: Tianjin Daily