On Sept 30th, the School of Public Affairs (PAS) held a buffet party for all students and staff to celebrate the coming Chinese National Day Holiday. The theme of the party was “Celebrate National Day, Develop Friendship”, with the aim of enhancing relationships between Chinese students, teachers and international students.
About 120 people attended the party, including SONG Wei, Dean of PAS; LI Xiaogang, Deputy Dean; LIU Haiqing and ZHANG Jing, teachers of USTC Graduate School; teachers of PAS, Chinese students and around 60 international students.
Dean SONG Wei started the party with a speech. He stated that China is under a new developing economic trend. The “One Belt One Road” initiative provides many opportunities for us. As most of the students are from route countries, Dean SONG expressed hopes that while at USTC, they could learn more about China’s reform and opening-up, as well as the development of modernization; thus building relationships with Chinese teachers and students. During the celebration, Dean SONG expressed his wishes that all the members unite as a family in order to accomplish their dreams of prosperity.
Professor YANG Hui and Professor ZHANG Shu delivered their greetings and talked about the significance of “One Belt One Road”, which is to achieve mutual success between China and route countries. International students and Chinese students need to get a better understanding of each other’s cultures.
Professor ZHOU Rongting and Deputy Dean LI Xiaogang both expressed their best wishes to students, and hope that they harvest both friendship and knowledge at USTC; become the mainstay of society and establish connections between respective countries.
Ghulam and Asad, international students from Pakistan, shared their experience of living and studying at USTC. They thanked USTC for giving them the chance to study in China; and thanked PAS for treating them as family members.
ZHU Yuanhua, a PhD candidate, and SUN Pingping, a graduate student, spoke as the representatives of Chinese students. They appreciated PAS for holding this meaningful event and promised to work hard toward the blossoming of China.
Kalin Hristov, a new international student from USA, talked about his bond with China and how lucky he is to be a student of USTC. He expected an unforgettable life in PAS and permanent friendships with other students here.
During the party, all the participants chatted with each other and smiled throughout the event. They sang together, danced together, exchanged contact numbers, and shared the delicious food. Many students were attracted by the video of USTC story playing on the screen. A birthday song of different languages was sung by all the students to end the party.
This event is of great significance for the School of Public Affairs; it not only promoted a closer bond between participants, but also allied everyone’s dream of building a brighter future for the homeland.
Fang Yuan & LIU Yinghua, School of Public Affairs
