Peking University, Beijing, Dec. 12, 2008: A Peking University student played High Mountain and Flowing Water along with a piece of ancient Chinese Guzheng (a traditional Chinese instrument or "Chinese Zither") music to bring the ninth term of the Stanford Program in Beijing to a close. The piece is meant to represent the long lasting friendships between the students, the professors and PKU and Stanford. Representatives of Peking University Office of International Relations (OIR), Stanford Program Office, professors and students attended the ceremony at Linhuxuan, or the Lakeside Pavilion.
On behalf of the OIR, which is the PKU’s cooperating office of the program, Deputy Director Xia Hongwei addressed all the participators with warm congratulations. He recalled the program’s history since 2004, during which nine terms of the program had been successfully held and over 50 professors from both Stanford University and PKU had lectured more than 500 students from the two universities in courses about Chinese culture, history, society and language. Mr. Xia sincerely thanked Stanford University and PKU’s professors who devoted their passion into this three-month course term and also into the program’s development. He mentioned PKU’s hope that the current 22 Stanford students in the program would return to America with warm memories about PKU, Beijing, China, and share it with their American friends. In this way, students contribute their knowledge and understandings of China to the Sino-US friendship.
Professor Li Xiaoqi, Dean of International College for Chinese Language Studies, said in her address that the college has always attached great importance to the Chinese language teaching in this program and appointed the strongest group of Chinese teachers to teach Stanford students Chinese language based on different levels. Ms. Li was happy to see that Stanford students all worked very hard in improving their Chinese and also achieved great scores in their Chinese language courses. She hoped they can continue practicing Chinese even after they go back to America.
Representing professors from PKU teaching Stanford students these past three months, Professor Chen Dong from the School of Economics expressed his gratitude and holiday wishes to the students for the upcoming New Year. Stanford students expressed their gratitude with an enthusiastic applause.
Dr. Shen Xiaohong, the resident director from Stanford, also extended her congratulations to both Stanford and PKU students for completing their courses in this session and her thankfulness for PKU’s unreserved support and effort in organizing and sponsoring the program.
Professor Jean OI and Professor Andrew Walder from Stanford University talked about their fruitful experiences in teaching in the program. They both praised PKU students’ active participation in classroom discussions. “They shared their lives and feelings about China as they were born and grew up in China, and their viewpoints and papers are very precious for our teaching and research.” said Professor Walder, “they greatly impressed me.” When speaking about a new Stanford Center to be established in PKU, Professors and officials from both Stanford University and PKU showed high expectations.
Graduation certificates were awarded to Stanford and PKU students by professors from PKU and Stanford University. A Christmas card with best wishes and signatures from PKU students was presented to Stanford professors.
The end of ceremony was characterized by enthusiasm and laughter from Stanford and PKU students. 22 Stanford students from three classes performed: a chorus of “Beijing welcomes you”, a song popularized during the Beijing Olympic Games, a chorus of “Friend,” a popular song lauding friendship, and classic Chinese tongue twisters. PKU students from Professor Walder’s class performed a magic show and students from Professor OI’s class sang “Beida welcomes you,” a song adapted from “Beijing welcomes you” with a Guzheng (traditional Chinese instrument, Ancient Chinese Zither) accompaniment. All performances aroused warm responses from the audience and brought the ninth session of the Stanford Program to a grand ending.
Edite by: Wang Yi
