Source: Education Development & Alumni Affairs Office
Written by: Shen Rui
Translated by: Wang Hui

On September 22, the banquet celebrating the 88th anniversary of founding of Sun Yat-sen University & the 30th anniversary of graduation of class of 1977 & 1978, hosted by Sun Yat-sen University Alumni Association and SYSU Alumni Association in Beijing, was held in the Hall of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing. President Xu Ningsheng, teacher representatives, representatives of schools and departments, alumni representatives in Beijing as well as more than eighty graduates of class of 1977 & 1978 attended the grand gathering. The celebration ceremony was presided over by Deputy Secretary Li Ping.

Themed on “Grass with Feelings and Years like Songs”, the celebration party aimed to playback the time three decades ago through various activities, enabling the alumni to relive their college days and experience the affection from their alma mater.

President Xu Ningsheng addressed the celebration on behalf of Sun Yat-sen University and extended greetings to the alumni in Beijing. As a member of the class of 1977, President Xu recalled the memorable years with the distinguished guests and reviewed the course of development of our country and our university in the past 30 years. He also introduced the outstanding achievements of our university in various fields in recent years.

Professor Huang Tianji delivered a speech on behalf of the teachers of those years. He recollected the time he spent with the class of 1977 & 1978, and hoped that SYSU alumni could "blossom" around the world with their "roots" always in their alma mater. Chen Pingyuan, an alumnus of class of 1977 at Department of Chinese, currently Professor of Peking University and Chairman of SYSU Alumni Association in Beijing, made a speech on behalf of class of 1977 &1978. He recalled the special historical background from a different perspective and shared his unique understandings of class of 1977 & 1978. Huang Shuhe, an alumnus of class of 1975 at Department of Chinese, Academician Zeng Yixin and Professor Chen Zhizhao, representing senior alumni, junior alumni and overseas alumni respectively, delivered a speech to express their best wishes for the alumni of class of 1977 &1978.

Arranged according to schools and departments, over eighty graduates of class of 1977 & 1978 wearing the special academicals of SYSU took photos with President Xu Ningsheng, Deputy Secretary Li Ping and representatives of the teachers of those years. It seemed as if the alumni had returned to their youth. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and warmth.

An elaborate video highly recommended the museum project under preparation. The commemorative silver coin of the museum designed by alumnus Cao Minghui was first released at the ceremony. The silver coin is priced at 400 yuan, of which 100 yuan will be donated to the museum construction fund. This mode will realize the idea of "a 100 yuan donation" and the original intention of the university for everyone to make a contribution to the construction of the museum.

At the celebration meeting, a get-together session was specially arranged and jointly hosted by Li Hanrong, Director of the Education Development & Alumni Affairs Office, and three alumni Yan Ping, Zhu Ziqing and Ma Li. The Sun Yat-sen University Alumni Association, alumni representatives of class of 1977 & 1978, and current students presented a performance with the characteristics of the period for the distinguished guests, which reminded them of their youthful days.

The alma mater's representatives present at the celebration meeting included teacher representatives Professor Chen Ruzhu, Professor Huang Tianji, Professor Mo Dang, Professor Zhu Xihai and Professor Feng Dawen, and representatives of schools and departments Li Wei, Head of Department of Chinese, Tan Jinsong, Secretary of Sun Yat-sen Business School, and Gu Xiaohong, Secretary of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.