On Dec 8, Irish President Michael D. Higgins presented the 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad to winners at the presidential palace.

Professor Wang Zhanpeng, director of the Centre for Irish Studies at the School of English and International Studies of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), and Professor Chen Li, deputy director of the centre, won the award under the Business and Education category as the first Chinese recipients.                                                                               

The award was presented in recognition of their outstanding contributions to deepening the interests of the Chinese people in Irish literature and culture, and especially the far-reaching impact of building the BFSU Centre for Irish Studies.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins (C) presents the 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad to Professor Wang Zhanpeng (L) and Professor Chen Li (R) from BFSU. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Established by the Irish government in 2012, the award is presented annually by the President of Ireland to recognize those who live outside Ireland but have made outstanding contributions to the country in the following fields: arts, culture and sports, business and education, charity, Irish community support, peace, reconciliation and development, as well as science, technology and innovation. This year, a total of 12 people from all walks of life from Afghanistan, the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom and China received the award.

The Centre for Irish Studies at BFSU is the first interdisciplinary Irish research institution to have been established in China. Scholars at the centre have actively promoted talent training, academic research and exchanges in Irish studies, producing extensive achievements in Irish research and further enhancing cultural exchanges between China and Ireland.