Hailing the Republic and pursuing the dreams of a new era: Performance of the original drama Yang Shixian by Nankai University for its centennial anniversary at M.U.S.T.
The year of 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the 20th anniversary of the return of Macao to the motherland, and the 100th anniversary of the founding of Nankai University. 2019 is also a key year for the Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Co-sponsored by Nankai University and M.U.S.T. and supported by China Association for Science and Technology, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Communist Youth League, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao S.A.R., Nankai University’s original drama Yang Shixian Macao tour was held at 7:30 pm on 23rd July, 2019 at M.U.S.T. indoor gymnasium for its 100-year anniversary.
Guest who attended the performance included Xu Yanhao, Vice President of China Association for Science and Technology, Xue Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao S.A.R., Cao Xuetao, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Nankai University, Liu Chak Wan, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chancellor of M.U.S.T., Chang Kun Hong, Deputy Director of the Macao Higher Education Bureau, Wong Soi Man, Director of the Macao Maritime and Water Affairs Bureau, Lin Yuan, Deputy Director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau, Gou Renmin, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs of the Macao Liaison Office, Wu Shanchao, Deputy Director of the Department of Policy Research and Publicity of China Association for Science and Technology, Meng Lingyu, Director of the Division of General Affairs and Coordination of the Department of Policy Research and Publicity, Yang Kexin, Vice President of Nankai University, Liu Liang, President of M.U.S.T., Pang Chuan, Lin Zhijun and Kwong Ying Wa, Vice Presidents of M.U.S.T., Chen Jimin, Member of M.U.S.T. Council and Tianjin Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, Liu Jihong, National Class A actor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Political Department of Drama Group and the director of the drama Yang Shixian. The representatives of the 34th China Adolescents Science & Technology Innovation Contest and Nankai University Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao alumni, and M.U.S.T. staff and students also attended the event.
This thematic stage performance in Macao commemorated the scientists who made outstanding contributions to the development and founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It vividly introduced the scientific development of the PRC to the compatriots in Macao who could be stimulated by the commitment of older generations of Chinese scientists to the country. This plays a positive role in binding the consensus and strength of Nankai University alumni at home and abroad, enhancing cultural exchanges between the mainland and Macao, and promoting mutual understanding between the young people of the two regions.
The original documentary short film The Drama in Nankai opened the prelude of the event and showed the history and heritage of the Nankai drama to Macao compatriots. The song Me and my Motherland was then sang by the group of Nankai University and M.U.S.T. students, expressing their deep affection and love to the country.
Vice President Pang Chuan of M.U.S.T. delivers a speech on behalf of Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Acting Chief Executive and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R.
Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Acting Chief Executive and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R., extended good wishes for the event as an alumnus of Nankai University, despite being unable to attend the event due to his official duties. Pang Chuan, the Vice President of M.U.S.T., then read the speech on his behalf. Secretary Tam said in the speech: “I am very glad to see that the performance of the drama Yang Shixian in Macao is an opportunity to reinforce cooperation between Nankai University and M.U.S.T. It will not only enhance the academic and teaching standards of the largest comprehensive university in Macao, but also carry forward the patriotic spirit of higher education. I wish Macau University of Science and Technology to develop better and conduct more tight cooperation with Nankai University, to jointly contribute more to the development of the Greater Bay Area and the country”.
President Liu Liang of M.U.S.T. delivers a speech
Liu Liang, President of M.U.S.T. delivered a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to the first performance of Nankai University’s large-scale original drama Yang Shixian in Macao, which was supported by the China Association for Science and Technology and Nankai University. In the speech, he also extended warm congratulations and best wishes to the 100th anniversary of Nankai University.
Chang Kun Hong, Deputy Director of the Macao Higher Education Bureau delivers a speech
Chang Kun Hong, Deputy Director of the Macao Higher Education Bureau welcomed the leaders, teachers and students of the China Association for Science and Technology and Nankai University on behalf of the Macao Higher Education Bureau. He continued to say that the Macao higher education sector in the new era of development shall follow the example of the older generation of Chinese scientists and educators such as Yang Shixian, learn from their spirit of patriotism and commitment in education and scientific research, and keep moving forward!
Cao Xuetao, President of Nankai University delivers a speech
Cao Xuetao, President of Nankai University expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the support and guidance of the institutions including China Association for Science and Technology and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao S.A.R, and his sincere thanks to the warm and meticulous arrangement of the Macao government and M.U.S.T. He mentioned that General Secretary Xi Jinping made a special visit to inspect Nankai University on 17th January and fully affirmed its patriotic tradition and achievements on school management and education in the past 100 years. In such a special moment, the performance of the drama Yang Shixian exerted significant influence over the promotion of the patriotism spirit of Nankai people who devote to serve the country through scientific research, the enhancement of cultural exchanges between the mainland and Macao universities, the promotion of mutual understanding between young people of the two places and both Nankai University and M.U.S.T., the uniting of the consensus and strength of Nankai alumni at home and abroad, and the establishment of a unified national identity and national concept.
Xu Yanhao, Vice President of China Association for Science and Technology delivers a speech
Xu Yanhao, Vice President of China Association for Science and Technology stated in his speech that, after visiting the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines and the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences of M.U.S.T., he deeply felt the University scholars’ scientific spirit of seeking the truth and scaling new heights, and its excellent academic character of “Dedication to practical studies, Enhancement of knowledge, Ability and Quality”. The artful work Yang Shixian is a significant achievement of the Backbone of the Republic – Master of Science Project which is jointly sponsored by the five departments including the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. It is expected to inspire young people in the new era to generate, pursue and attain dreams. This drama aims at forwarding the scientists’ spirit of innovative practice and celebrating the 70th anniversary of the great motherland and the 20th anniversary of the return of Macao to the motherland.
Highlights of Yang Shixian
In the evening, M.U.S.T. gymnasium was full of glory and exceptional. For the actual needs of performing in the facilities, the drama crew creatively set up a standard theater, creating an artistic effect of ‘the hall within the hall’ and ‘the stage within the stage’. As the field bell rang off and the lights faded away, all distinguished guests, teachers and students fully immersed into the story of Mr. Yang Shixian. The drama spanned nearly half a century history from the Lugouqiao incident in 1937 to the death of Yang Shixian in 1985, from the tragic destruction of the Nankai University campus bombed by the Japanese troops to the relocation of the University to Kunming with Tsinghua University and Peking University, from the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the launching of “March toward Science” slogan to the focused development of the major national project in need. As demonstrated in the performance, Yang Shixian dedicated his life to the science and education of the motherland, and his patriotism and alignment to the home country deeply moved the spectators.
Group photo
It is reported that the drama Yang Shixian reflects the glorious life of Mr. Yang Shixian, the pioneers of pesticide chemistry and element-organic chemistry in China and the former President of Nankai University, who made an indelible contribution to the development of China’s first generation of organic pesticides research and the cultivation of organic chemistry talents. It also depicts a collective image of Nankai University scientists who dedicate their life to the scientific research and education of the motherland, being not afraid of hardships, eager to seek justice, and innovative in changes and improvements. It has been performed in Chongqing, Jiangsu and other provinces and cities in a national tour, and triggered a strong social response.
