The past 70 years have witnessed fruitful achievements of College of Chinese Language and Culture(CCLC) of Huaqiao University(HQU) (predecessor Jimei Overseas Chinese Tutoring School). On Oct 20^th, the college celebrates its 70th anniversary with more than 800 alumni, faculty and students from around the world.

Alumni came back to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of their alma mater (Photograph:CCLC)

Seven decades ago, the central government adopted the suggestions of Tan Kah-kee, also known as Chen Jiageng(the overseas Chinese philanthropist), and entrusted him to take charge of the preparation and building of Jimei Overseas Chinese Tutoring School. Despite tough condition sat the time, teachers and students worked together to try to create a warm and friendly school for overseas Chinese students, earning the school the reputation of the cradle of the Chinese language education for overseas Chinese students. In 1997, to meet the needs of increasingly developed overseas Chinese language education, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council incorporated the school into HQU and established CCLC. Over the past 70 years, CCLC has nurtured and educated more than 60,000 students from 103 nations and regions.

A gathering celebrating the 70^th anniversary of CCLC

At the gathering, Xu Xipeng, Secretary of the Party Committee of HQU pointed out that CCLC has built itself into a key base for supporting the HQU mission of “To better serve overseas Chinese and to promote Chinese culture”, and become one of the great namecards of HQU. He hoped that CCLC will take the 70th anniversary of its founding as a new starting point, centering around the new cultural missions on the new journey of the new era to carry forward fine traditions and the “Jiageng Spirit”(it refers to a spirit of Chen Jiageng and promotes a dedication to learning and self improvement), advance various initiatives to make key breakthroughs, and bring its unique strength into full play. It is also hoped that CCLC should better tell China’s stories well, better make China’s voice heard, and foster a new generation of young people and goodwill ambassadors, so as to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

2023 freshman presented flowers to alumni aged over 85

With this year marking the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative(BRI), CCLC and Xiamen Star TV jointly launched “The Belt and Road Initiative” micro-documentary series. This series of vlogs was revealed at the gathering. The series is shot from the perspective of HQU international students from countries along the Belt and Road and tells stories about how has BRI changed these students and their countries in a positive way.

Distinguished guests pressed the start button to release the micro-documentary series The Belt and Road Initiative

HQU president Wu Jianping presided over the celebration. The event was attended by distinguished guests including Zhang Donghao, Dean of Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College; Ni Jie, Head of Jimei District of Xiamen; and Uthai Shinawatra, Vice president of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association; Ms. Oblena, Consul General of the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen, Wanlapa Jitsomboon, Deputy Consul-General of Royal Thai Consulate-General in Xiamen, along with the heads of College of Chinese Language and Culture of Jinan University, Chinese Language and Culture School of Kunming, Guangxi Overseas Chinese School and other colleges, heads of overseas Chinese language education research centers like Philippine Chinese Education Research Center, and representatives of alumni associations from both home and abroad.

(Editor: Wei Linying)