Launching Ceremony for the 40th Anniversary of CityU: Conferment of Doctorate Degrees on Qiao Xiaoyang and Pun Chi Meng
The City University of Macau held the launching ceremony for its 40th Ceremony today (28). Edmund Ho and Gu Shengzu, Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and representative of the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Zhang Rongshun, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Qiao Xiaoyang, former vice-chairman of the Law Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), former Chairman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee and Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee of the NPC, Wang Weiguang, Chairman of the Committee of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Liu Xianfa, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Huang Wei, Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Liu Limin, President of China Education International Exchange Association and former Vice Minister of Education, Liu Jin, Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs and Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education, Guo Caiwu, Zhuhai representative, Member of the Standing Committee of Zhuhai People's Congress and Head of the United Front Work Department of Zhuhai Municipal Committee, CityU Council Chairman Chan Meng Kam and Rector Jun Liu officiated the launching ceremony and witnessed the important moment of the 40th anniversary of the City University of Macau with members of the Executive Council and members of the Legislative Assembly of Macao SAR, university rectors and secondary school principals, representatives of enterprises, institutions and banks, faculty and staff and students of CityU and other guests.
At the ceremony, Rector Jun Liu thanked all the guests for attending the event. In his speech, Rector Liu said that the nation’s 11th Five Year Plan stated that: efforts should be made to strengthen basic research, bolster primary innovation, promote interdisciplinary integration, promote the optimal allocation and resource sharing of scientific research forces in scientific research institutes, universities and enterprises, and promote the development of state laboratories. The CityU would continue to “embrace the past and dare to create the future”. Looking ahead, it would follow the policies of the country and SAR government and develop itself into a new type of international metropolitan university with “integration of diversified cultures, excellent liberal education and featured humanities programs”. In terms of program development, we would focus on developing high-end think tanks and state key laboratories, promoting primary innovation, developing forward looking and cross-discipline courses, conducting innovative and break through research in areas such as big health care, smart cities, FinTech and cross cultural exchange in order to drive the development of social sciences and humanities programs and contribute to the cultural prosperity of Macao and the Greater Bay Area. In terms of student cultivation, we would actively promote the “transformation of research and innovation into practical applications” and nurture the humanistic quality of students so that they will have a “strong liberal sense”.
Gu Shengzu said in his speech that the City University had carried on the tradition of the University of East Asia and responded to the call of the country and Macao SAR government to cultivate talent, steadily developing into a higher education platform with unique Macao characteristics. On the one hand, he hoped with its advantages in multidisciplinary programs, CityU would play a role in the long-term exploration of the Macao’s moderately diversified economy, actively participate in key Mainland research projects and promote research and innovation of the Greater Bay Area and the country. On the other hand, he hoped that CityU will leverage the relationships established with universities around the world to build a habitat for international high-end talent.
Wang Weiguang pointed out that CityU had established good strategic partnership with world-renowned universities and prominent universities in the four places across the strait. Its Bachelor’s Degree programs in International Tourism and Management are the only featured programs Macao accredited TedQual quality education by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Mr Wang hoped that CityU would conduct in-depth study of major issues, such as the development of Macao and the Greater Bay Area, the “Belt and Road” initiative and the domestic and international dual cycle development, and produce research outcomes, actively participating in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
Ao Ieong U said the CityU had striven to realize its mission and fulfill its social responsibility of “Rooted in Macau and Integrated with the Greater Bay Area”, nurturing talent for society. The SAR government would continue to support the development of CityU and hoped that CityU would place emphasis on quality education and featured education, cater for the development needs of Macao, the region and the country, strengthen cooperation with Greater Bay Area enterprises in innovation, cultivate more young talent who have our country at heart for Macao and achieve more forward-looking development.
At the launching ceremony, a conferment ceremony of honorary doctorate degrees was held and Dr Qiao Xiaoyang was conferred with a Doctorate honoris causa in Law in recognition of his efforts in promoting the rule of law of the country and "One Country Two Systems". In his speech, Qiao Xiaoyang said that in recent years, City University of Macau has entered a stage of rapid development. With the strong support of various parties, it had been striving to recruit outstanding talent, expand the size of the University and improve the quality of education. Its efforts bore fruits and CityU was highly commended by different parties. Pun Chi Meng was conferred with a Doctorate honoris causa in Social Science in recognition of his dedication and contributions to social work. Other guests who spoke at the ceremony included Deputy Minister Huang Wei, Director Liu Jin, and Dr Wong King Keung.
On that meaningful day, CityU held the plague unveiling ceremony of Sino-Portugal Joint Laboratory in Cultural Heritage Conservation supported by “Belt and Road” initiative. The joint laboratory will promote the scientific and innovative development of cultural heritage conservation materials of our country through the introduction of advanced equipment and technology for material analysis. It will also combine the “Belt and Road” national strategy with the regional development positioning of “Sino-Portuguese Platform”, bringing together the research and development capabilities of the three World Heritage cities of Macau, Suzhou, and Évora of Portugal in the area of cultural heritage conservation to promote the high-quality development of Macao while keeping up the efforts in conservation of cultural heritage.
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A 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner was held after the launching ceremony to share the joys of the 40th anniversary of the City University of Macau. During the dinner, two events, including a donation ceremony at which Vice Council Chairman Ung Choi Kun donated MOP3 million to the University and Luso International Banking Ltd & City University of Macau Co-Branded Card Launching Ceremony, were held. There was also rich program on that evening, including Chinese dance, zither ensemble and Portuguese folk dance performed by students, fully demonstrating the uniqueness of Macao where the Chinese and Portuguese cultures met.
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