中文版

On March 5, 2019, Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association (SORSA) hosted the signing ceremony and information session of “2019 SORSA Grant for projects on people-to-people diplomacy activities". “Magnificent Culture– Chinese traditional culture sharing salon” proposed by SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association officially signed with SORSA.

Sherry Fu, the project leader, executive member of the SORSA council, vice president and secretary general of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association attended the meeting and signed the official contract, witnessed by SORSA leaders.

SORSA vice president and secretary general Lingling Zhu and executive vice president Jianfei Lu delivered speeches, shared constructive guidelines and useful advices regarding activities around people-to-people diplomacy. So far 58 projects have received funds since 2015 and strived to accomplish the mission of "people-to-people diplomacy". It is hoped that 12 winning projects this year will look forward, demonstrate the project aspect of "people-to-people", promote team spirit, and attract wider publicility and visibility. During the speech, SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association was particulary mentioned as a good example of newly established chapter which has had a positive impact and been recognized at SORSA.

From left to right: SORSA vice president and secretary general Lingling Zhu , executive vice president Jianfei Lu

On behalf of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association, Sherry Fu, the project leader, executive member of the SORSA council, vice president and secretary general of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association attended the meeting and signed the official contract. She introduced the project's mission and vision: to promote Chinese traditional culture through immersive experince of "tea, caligraphy and painting, and silk arts" among UK students studying in Shanghai. In the future, alumni association will continue to develop  signature events such as "Magnificent Culture" series, never forget why it started, continue to provide support to alumni and strive to bring together university alumni in the region. SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association was officially launched on January 14, 2017, and witnessed by University of Manchester representations and SORSA leaders. Over the past two years, alumni association has strived to carefully identify resources, actively expand alumni network, and work closely together with the University of Manchester China Centre, SORSA, various chapters under SORSA, Mcloud and other organizations to expand career development, foster social responsibility, enrich learning for alumni as well as to promote Sino-British ties and exchanges among culture, economics, science, technology, education and other sectors. Since the establishment, alumni association has supported over 100 alumni events and activities including regular thought leader talks, social responsibility campaigns, sportsactivities and 12 visits to industry-leading companies.

As one of the key oranizers, 'Mcloud' was officially launched in Shanghai on December 7, 2017, witnessed by distinguished guests from the British Consulate General in Shanghai, SORSA UK branch and UoM alumni association, the Manchester-China Forum, the University of Manchester's alumni clubs, Alliance Manchester Business School, Xu Beihong Painting Academy and the Silk Elite. Affiliated to Manchester-China Forum and University of Manchester China Centre, Mcloud links Chinese and British government organizations, Sino-UK scientists and artists to build a bilateral people-to-people diplomatic platform.

At the meeting, Sai Yang from Benelux chapter and Liang Shen from Shanghai University chapter shared their experiences on organizing relevant projects. 11 other projects including Japan Branch’s “Grow Cherry Blossom Trees, Grow China–Japan Ties” project, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chapter’s “Traditional ChineseMedicine Experience” project and US Branch Harvard University Alumni Association’s “American Students in Shanghai” historical heritage tour project have also won the funds and signed the official contract.