Peking University, Beijing, March 4th, 2009: "Peking University Kiriyama Education Fund 10th Anniversary and 2008-2009 School Year's Kiriyama Education Fund Fellowship Award Ceremony" was held in PKU's Overseas Exchange Center. Japan's Agon Shu's Chinese Office Director Shi Xuejun, Beijing's Agon Shu's representative Hong Feng, China Association for International Friendly Contact Executive Vice Secretary-General Chen Jun, CAIFC Asia Department Minister Zhou Xinzheng, CAIFC Asia Department Division Chief Ma Nong were all present at the event. University Leaders who attended the event included: PKU Vice President Zhang Guoyou, Education Fund Secretary-General Deng Ya, Vice Minister of Personnel Dai Changliang, Executive Vice Secretary-General Chang Lirong. The event was hosted by Education Fund Secretary-General Deng Ya.

PKU Vice President Zhang Guoyou gave the opening remarks. Speaking on behalf of PKU, he thanks Japan's Agon Shu Director Mr. Seiyu Kiriyama and Agon Shu for many years of generously subsidizing the Education Business as well as supporting PKU's education research and academic exchange. Vice President Zhang pointed out, Mr. Kiriyama and Agon Shu have always devoted themselves to bettering the relationship between China and Japan. The founding of Kiriyama Education Fund showed sufficiently Mr. Kiriyama and Agon Shu's concern and care for PKU. Zhang also expressed his gratitude towards CAIFC for their many years of attention and support of PKU's Education Business.

Japan's Agon Shu's Chinese Office Director Shi XueJun speaking

Japan's Agon Shu's Chinese Office Director Shi Xuejun and China Association for International Friendly Contact Executive Vice Secretary-General Chen Jun also spoke at the event. They each showed their interest towards PKU's Education and also congratulated the teachers who were rewarded with research grants.

Japan's Agon Shu's Chinese Office Director Shi Xuejun and China Association for International Friendly Contact Executive Vice Secretary-General Chen Jun presenting the awards to the final applicants

This year is the 10th Anniversary of the Kiriyama Education Fund, Professor Liu Yucai from the Chinese Department represented the teachers who have received research grants from the Kiriyama Education Fund in thanking Mr. Kiriyama and Agon Shu for their care for PKU's Teaching Staff and gave a report of the research projects completed with the help of the Kiriyama Education Fund.

Following, Dai Changliang, PKU's Vice Minister of Personnel, explained the Fund's review system as well as announcing the final grant list. The Kiriyama Education Fund has always received much attention of teachers from both humanities and social sciences, applicants were received from the Chinese Department, Philosophy Department, School of International Studies, School of Foreign Languages, School of Education, School of Economics and School of Journalism and Communication. Twenty teachers were awarded with the grant this year.

Many awardees from this year and previous years present explained that the grants would be put to good use for their research and once again showed their gratitude towards Mr. Kiriyama and Agon Shu for their support of PKU's humanities and social science programs.

Awardees sharing their thoughts

Recently, PKU's goal has been to create a world-class university. To accomplish that goal, two important factors are course construction and the assembly of teaching staff. No doubly, the Kiriyama Education Fund has been a great encouragement to PKU's teaching staff. PKU's educational work and academic research will continue to improve with the help of foundations like the Kiriyama Education Fund.

Edited By: Wang Yi

Translated By: Connie Chang

Source: PKU News (Chinese)