Beijing Foreign Studies University launches an 80-day countdown on July 8 to the grand celebration of its 80th birthday.

Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) launched an 80-day countdown on July 8 to the grand celebration of its 80th birthday, which will be hosted this September.

Events during the countdown ceremony included a review of the year-long preparatory work for the 80th anniversary event, the release of cultural and creative products, donations from its alumni and other individuals, the inauguration of a global relay by alumni and the initiation of a volunteer celebration team.

Ding Hao, vice president and member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) BFSU Committee, presided over the countdown ceremony.

Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee, addresses the ceremony.

During his speech at the ceremony, Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee, emphasized that it is of great importance for the university to hold such a countdown event because this year marks the centenary of the founding of the CPC.

Wang said BFSU will use the celebration of its 80th founding anniversary as an opportunity to further spur its high-quality growth, accelerate its development as a world-class higher education institute featuring internationalized, advanced and comprehensive foreign language education, nurture a group of talented personnel who are capable of mastering foreign languages and international rules, engaging in international negotiation, caring for national affairs and having an international outlook, and contribute more efforts to the building of China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

Wang reviewed the preparatory work for the 80th birthday and called on all alumni to take part in various celebration activities, closely follow the school’s development, and contribute to the success of the celebratory event.

Wang expressed deep thanks to those domestic and foreign universities that have built a partnership with the BFSU for their congratulatory messages on its founding anniversary, called for closer exchanges and cooperation with them in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, and invited them to attend various birthday activities both online and offline.

Apart from urging all faculty staff and students to actively participate in various celebrations, Wang instructed the university to further improve relevant working plans and mechanisms and build service-oriented platforms to ensure a grand success for the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary.

Wang Mingxin, deputy director of the university's office for the celebration, presided over the release ceremony of cultural and creative items, which included the launch of a special website in both Chinese and English in commemoration of the 80th anniversary, the arrangement of monthly themed activities, and commemorative postcards.

During the ceremony, Cheng Huiling, president of Citiking Group (China) and an alumna of the BFSU School of German Language, donated one million yuan to set up an education development fund at the university.

Zhao Rong, manager of the Department of Stamps Collection and Cultural Media in the Beijing Branch of China Post, donated a set of 80-day-countdown commemorative envelops. Hao Jingchun, secretary-general of the Beijing Musical Instrument Association and a master of the peizhu (an ancient Chinese musical instrument), and Gao Tiaoliang, an expert of the traditional Chinese paper-cutting art, presented their artistic products to the university in the celebration of its 80th founding anniversary.

Jia Wenjian, vice president and deputy Party chief of BFSU, presented a relay banner and flag to Xin Shaoying, a producer of sports programs at China Central Television and alumna of the university, and Zhang Dong, deputy director-general of the Department of Eurasian Affairs in the Ministry of Commerce and alumnus of the university, and two representatives of on-campus students kicked off the global relay event.

More than 700 people have been recruited as a volunteer team for the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary. Their representatives received a flag from Wang Dinghua at the ceremony as well.

Beijing Foreign Studies University launches an 80-day countdown on July 8 to the grand celebration of its 80th birthday.

A celebratory drone formation flew over the campus, and 225 volunteers joined in a chorus of song while depicting the school emblem and the logo for the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary in formation.

Those in attendance at the countdown ceremony included Hu Zhigang, vice secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee and secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee for Discipline Inspection, Zhao Gang, vice president and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BFSU Committee, other faculty members and student representatives.