On July 1, H.E. Ambassador Peter Tan Hai Chuan of Singapore to China paid a visit to Yenching Academy. He was warmly received by his old friend, YCA Dean Dong Qiang at Jingyuan Courtyard 3. The meeting was a cordial reunion of the two old friends.
Ambassador Tan first introduced the events celebrating the 30th anniversary of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), founded in 1994 and the benchmark project for Sino-Singapore economic and trade cooperation. The ambassador believed that with the joint efforts of China and Singapore, SIP will become a new model for the high-quality development in the field. Dean Dong in turn talked about his recent visit to France for the celebrating events of the 60th anniversary of Sino-France diplomatic relations. He was particularly impressed by the successful HEHE Civilization Forum 2023 held in Singapore by the International Confucian Association (ICA) to which he is a special advisor. They then exchanged in-depth views on future collaboration between the Embassy of Singapore and the Academy in the field of higher education, on which Ambassador Tan suggested possible exchange projects between Yenching Academy and universities in Singapore. Dean Dong found this a good idea and hoped to see it come true with great support from the ambassador and embassy.
After the meeting, Ambassador Tan joined our Scholars in a symposium at Jingyuan Courtyard 4. The symposium was hosted by Hong Kai Tan (Singapore) of the 2022 Cohort. Dean Dong expressed his appreciation for the ambassador’s hospitality when the YCA group visited the Embassy of Singapore last year. The professor highlighted that the Academy has always cherished its friendship with the embassy. The mutual exchanges between the two sides have facilitated the students’ personal development as global citizens. Education has served as a bridge between China and Singapore for in-depth people-to-people exchanges and solid, long-lasting relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Tan delivered a lecture on China-Singapore relations. He first recalled his diplomatic career in Japan and South Korea before being appointed the ambassador to China. As a senior diplomat who has worked in various Asian countries, Mr Tan has felt cultural diversity and economic complementarity in Asia, thus the important of collaboration between countries. Inter-national exchange and cooperation is key to peace and prosperity of the region and world. Singapore and China, geographically and culturally close, have both worked to promote the bilaterial relations based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both countries agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to an “All-Round High-Quality Future-oriented Partnership,” defining the future direction for their relations.
Ambassador Tan noted that mutual educational exchange has become an integral part of the Sino-Singapore relations. The two-way mobility of students enables both countries to have a growing number of young talents with global perspectives. The ambassador called for joint efforts of China and Singapore to cope with globally confronted challenges, such as climate changes, public health, and digital economy, contributing their wisdom and power to the global governance. Mr Tan noted that we’re dedicated to sci-tech innovation-driven industrial upgrading for a green, sustainable development and an all-round economic and social advancement. He believed that the present students would be key participants and promoters of friendly international dialogs in future.
In the Q&A session, Ambassador Tan answered the question on how to grow from a newbie into a master hand like him. Saying that he’s never had a reference book like “ambassador’s manual,” the ambassador saw “diplomacy” a firm belief from his youth days. He called students to be practical whatever they do in future. Time is the best judge for all the efforts one has paid, and every drop of sweat will be repaid and hard work will lead one to go far and farther. Mr Tan highlighted that with his diplomatic experience in Asia, he’s worked hard to benefit people in those countries, even though specific conditions and measures vary.
After the lecture, Dean Dong accompanied Ambassador Tan to the 10th anniversary photo exhibition at B1 of the Second Gymnasium, showing the ambassador the Academy’s fruitful decade, from in-class teaching to field study trips.
