On the afternoon of September 30, 2020, on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the traditional Chinese Mid-autumn Festival, Director Shen Yue of the Division of European and African Affairs of the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and Hua Jia came to our institute to see the international students of the Sister City Program of Pointe-Noire of the Republic of Congo. A comforting ceremony was held for the eight international students on campus in Meeting Room 802 to present them with best wishes for the festival and easements with the attendance of Office Director Geng Xiaodong of the institute, Dean Jiang Bingkun of the Faculty of International Education, Yang Zhen, teacher of the Foreign Affairs Office of the institute and Secretary of Teaching Affairs for international students and Class Teacher Gong Ping, which was presided over by Liang Qidong, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Education and Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the institute.
On behalf of the institute, Geng Xiaodong primarily conveyed warm welcome to the delegation headed by Director Shen Yue and his heartfelt thanks to the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office for the care and support for the institute’s work on foreign affairs and international students. On the occasion of the National Day and the Mid-autumn Festival celebrated by the Chinese people, he expressed his sincerest wishes to all the international students on behalf of the institute. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the institute has attached high attention to the teaching and life of the international students and striven to facilitate their life on campus. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the international students on campus who overcame all kinds of difficulty together with domestic students, cooperated with the institute in epidemic prevention and control. He hoped that the international students could make the fullest use of the remaining time to study Chinese and specialized knowledge much harder, seek further education or lay a solid foundation for their future work.
Shen Yue expressed greetings and best wishes to the international students of the Sister City Program of Pointe-Noire of the Republic of Congo on behalf of the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office. She pointed out that the students of the Sister City Program were like our family members. On the occasion of the two festivals, she hoped that the greetings could fill the international students with family-like warmth. The COVID-19 epidemic indeed mired us in too much inconvenience. It was hoped that the students could continue to overcome difficulties and firmly obey the epidemic control management regulations of the institute. Although China’s efforts of epidemic control have taken great effects, common epidemic diseases occur frequently in autumn and winter. It was hoped that the students would not relax their mind but continue with effective protection.
During the free chat, the international students expressed their thanks to Suzhou Municipal People’s Government and our institute for the care and love for them. Although they were in a foreign country, they could still feel the home-like warmth. They said they would obey the epidemic control management regulations of the institute, study Chinese well, carefully learn professional knowledge and practical skills and strive for more opportunities of seeking further education and working in China.
Four international students of the Sister City Program of Pointe-Noire of the Republic of Congo from Suzhou Polytechnic Institute of Agriculture also attended the ceremony.
