Swany (Li Si Yuan), China Correspondent
Editor's Note: This story was published on the Shaanxi University website in Chinese. It was translated to English by Swany, president of the university's English Club.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations, invited by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship and Shaanxi Provincial Friendship Association, a BYU-Hawaii delegation of 103 teachers and students led by President Eric Shumway, visited Shaanxi Normal University.
The president and some other chief officials of our school met with key members of the delegation, establishing friendly relations, and launching exchanges and cooperation. Vice President Jian - Xiang Zhang, recalled the fruits of cooperation of the two schools in recent years. Mr. Shumway said he was very grateful to the president of the school for the warm reception.
The two universities have agreed to exchanges involving Chinese students and teachers to provide overseas experiences and enhance English speaking and teaching abilities. Teachers from Shaanxi may provide assistance to BYU-Hawaii in Chinese language training.
It was also agreed that future cultural exchanges and cooperation projects between the Shaanxi College of Journalism and BYU-Hawaii broadcasting will be arranged.
This agreement signed on behalf of the two universities by Mr Zhang, vice president, and Mr. Shumway, president, indicates that exchanges and cooperation between the two universities have entered a new stage.
In the afternoon nearly 100 students of the BYU-Hawaii delegation had a basketball match and a table tennis match with the students of Shaanxi Normal University. (watch video ) The experts and professors of the delegation also visited College of Journalism and Communication.
In the evening, BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir performed in the Zhongnan Music Hall. Mr. Wang Tao, vice president, hopes that this joint Sino-U.S. student performance can deepen the friendship and understanding between the two universities. He also hopes it will promote the friendship between the United States and China. In his speech, Mr. Shumway said that this performance is unforgettable in the history of the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir.
At the end of the concert, the officials of Shaanxi Normal University presented baskets of flowers to congratulate the choir on a successful performance. Mr. Zhang spoke highly of the education level of BYU-Hawaii and the American college students with unique personalities.
The performance reflected the idea that music communication is without borders. The students of our university said, “This is the best performance in recent years.The American college students deeply affected us, and inspired us to learn and actively participate in international exchange activities.” They hope that Shaanxi Normal University will organize more high-level cultural exchange activities to enrich the campus culture.