"2010 Cross - strait Sun Yat-sen Forum” Took Place at SYSU

On December 16th, “2010 Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum” took place at Sun Yat-sen University. Over 200 experts and scholars engaging in the study of Sun Yat-sen ’s thought in mainland and Taiwan carried out intensive and extensive discussion which centered in “promoting Sun Yat-sen ‘s spirit and rejuvenating China jointly”. The forum aims to forge consensus on a new level and promote peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship, also to commemorate the coming of the centennial of the revolution of 1911.

Wang Yang, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Secretary of Guangdong Party Committee, said in his speech on the opening ceremony that, Mr.. Sun Yat-sen has a very special relationship with Guangdong, which is not only the hometown of Mr. Sun Yat-sen but also the main base for his revolutionary work. In recent years, With the increasing exchanges in economy, society and culture between the mainland and Taiwan, academic communication on Sun Yat-sen’s thought across the strait has also accelerated, which played an important role in enhancing cross-strait communication, fostering stronger friendship, carrying forward Sun Yat-sen Spirit and promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relationship. The establishment of “Sun Yat-sen Forum” fully showed the goodwill of both sides to strengthen communication and cooperation. Secretary Wang hoped that, both sides make joint effort for the forum and make it to be a new platform for the study of Sun Yat-sen’s thought, so as to make active contribution for the peaceful development of cross-strait relationship!

"Constantly recall the hardships of the nation’s reguvenation and the elegant demeanour of great men” said Secretary Wang Yanag. Mr. Sun Yat-sen , an outstanding patriot, national hero and the great revolutionary forerunner, attained great reverence in China and even thoughout the world. Being the quintessence of Mr. Sun’s lifetime effort, Sun Yat-sen’s thought turns to be China’s precious spirit wealth and thus deserves common inherit and development by the two sides of the strait.

"We will always respect Mr. Sun’s patriotic passion! We will always admire his unswerving and indomitable revolutionary will! We will always worship his open and developing entrepreneurial spirit!” said Secretary Wang.

Secretary Wang also pointed out that, today, when the dream of a new modernized China which Mr. Sun has ever blueprinted is becoming reality step by step, when China has risen formidably in the world, we should still bear in mind the goal of Mr. Sun’s "rejuvenating China”. We must continuously promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relationship and strive more vigorously for China’s great rejuvenation!

Wang Yi, Director of Taiwan Office of the Central Committee of CPC and the State Council, stated on the opening ceremony that, the aim of Mr. Sun’s struggle and the core of his whole thought is to revitalize the Chinese nation. In this new era, to realize the rejuvenation of China is a lofty history mission for all Chinese including the Taiwanese. The appeal of “Peace, Fighting and save China” by Mr. Sun still embody profound meaning up to now. “Peace, Fighting and rejuvenating China” should become the common pursuit and responsibility for the contemporary Chinese people on both sides of the strait and home and abroad.

Director Wang Yi said: “The reunification hasn’t finished yet, which is the greatest sadness for China. In the process of China’s rejuvenation, we must strive for China’s unification with utmost sincerity and greatest effort. First, we shall guarantee the peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship. All Chinese on both sides of Taiwan Strait should bear Mr. Sun’s words in mind and think of the future of the cross-strait relationship from the angle of the whole nation. Surpassing historical gratitude and resentment, we shall enhance mutual understanding, settle differences properly and strengthen mutual beneficial cooperation, so as to get a correct development direction and maintain a good momentum of the peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship. We should take practical actions to pursue peace for Taiwan and seek for prosperity of the nation.

Jiang Xiaoyan, Vice Chairman of the Nationalist Party of China, recalled Mr. Sun’s life affectionately at the opening ceremony. He said: "Mr. Sun Yat-sen devoted all his life to strive externally for China’s external liberty and equality and internally for China’s prosperity and reunification. Although the two sides of Taiwan Strait have been separated for a long time and even experienced confrontation with force, it has never changed that we have the same region and shall the same culture. History is the root and culture is the soul of a nation. In a new context of the increasing enhancement of cross-strait relationship, we should make joint effort to realize China’s rejuvenation, fulfilling Mr. Sun’s wishes.

People attending the opening ceremony also include Yu Muming, Chairman of Taiwan New Party, Huang Daren, President of Sun Yat-sen University in mainland and Yang Hongdun, President of National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan.

In his speech, President Huang said: “80 years ago, Mr. Sun once visited this campus and made a famous speech called “Students should aspire to do great cause rather than to be senior officials”. For the establishment of National Guangdong University, the predecessor of SYSU, Mr. Sun wrote a school motto in his own handwriting. Today when we review the history of SYSU’s establishment, we can still strongly feel Mr. Sun’s ardent expectations. Mr. Sun’s thought is a precious spirit wealth for SYSU and his spirit has been integrated into SYSU’s blood. Mr. Sun’s thought, such as “all for the public” and “universal love”, etc. has profoundly affected everyone in the university. For many years, SYSU has been keeping cooperation with more than ten famous universities in Taiwan, including NationalSunYat-senUniversity in Gaoxiong. The two sides carried out all-round cooperation in scholar exchanges, academic research and student exchange, etc. thus complementing each other’s advantages and seeking common development, greatly promoting academic and cultural communication across the strait. SYSU, jointly with TaiwanNationalSunYat-senUniversity in Gaoxiong, will make great effort to keep running the “Cross-strait Sun Yat-sen Forum” and make it a permanent platform for the study of Sun Yat-sen’s thought, or even a brand.

President Yang Hongdun said in his speech “Whether Guangzhou SYSU or Gaoxiong SYSU both carry forward Sun Yat-sen Spirit, a kind of enlightenment. When we look back at the history, we find that Sun Yat-sen Spirit in the enlightenment campaign came down, although the 1911 revolution has faded out from history.” President Yang pointed out that education is the most important thing to achieve the goal of enlightenment. “We believe that it is the foremost mission for the two universities.” With the same school name, the same school motto and the nearly same school song, Gaoxiong SYSU and Guangzhou SYSU have a deep relationship and can be seen as sister-university. “Cross-strait Sun Yat-sen Forum” is the best opportunity for the two universities to further strengthen substantial cooperation and communication. The two sides will uphold Mr. Sun’s thought and spirit and strive hand by hand for international first-class universities.

The forum mainly discussed on “Sun Yat-sen Thought and the rejuvenation of China”, "Sun Yat-sen Thought and China’s modernization”, "Sun Yat-sen Thought and 1911 revolution” as well as “Sun Yat-sen Thought and Huangpu Spirit”, etc.

"2010 Cross-strait Sun Yat-sen Forum” was co-hosted by SYSU on both sides of the strait, Guangdong Development Association of Cross-strait Communication as well as Taiwan Society of China’s Cultural Education and Economic Development, etc.