To broaden the knowledge of MUST students and the local residents about Macau’s international affairs, the development of China’s diplomacy, and the professional careers of contemporary diplomats, MUST initiated the “Ambassadorial Lecture Series”, inviting current and previous Chinese ambassadors to foreign countries, ambassadors of foreign countries to China, and international statespersons to give talks on Macau and international affairs; the series is sponsored by the Macao Foundation and it is part of the university’s general education curriculum and international learning engagement.
The first speaker of the series is Mr. Chen Jian, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, former President of the United Nations Association of China, former Ambassador Plenipotentiary of PRC to Japan. From 1972 to 1977, Mr. Chen Jian was an attaché of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, making him one of the first Chinese diplomats to the United Nations after the People’s Republic of China restored its lawful seat in the United Nations. From 1992 to 1994, he was the Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations. After he returned to China, he held positions as the Director-General of the Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2001 to February 9th, 2007, he served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, in charge of the Department for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management.
The inauguration ceremony for the Ambassadorial Lecture Series was held on the afternoon of September 27th at N101, Block N. Other guests who attended the ceremony included Mr. Lu Shu Min, President of the United Nations Association of China, former Ambassador to Indonesia and Canada, former Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in Macao SAR, Zhang Jinfeng, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr. Wu Zhi Liang, President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Foundation, Fung Sio Weng, Director of Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Macao SAR, and Chair Professor Liu Liang, President of MUST.
At the ceremony, President Liu Liang first extended warm welcomes to all of the distinguished guests. He noted that the launch of the “Ambassadorial Lecture Series” would expose MUST students and the Macau residents to the dynamics of China’s diplomacy and the current international relations, and help expand their international vision; it would also deepen Macau’s special role in China’s exchange and communication with the international community, reinforce Macau’s interactions with the international community, engage the public in participation of international affairs, introduce Macau to the world and direct the world’s attention to Macau.
In the first lecture, Mr. Chen Jian impressed the audience with his rich experience in diplomacy and his unique interpretations of the current situation of international relations; he presented an in-depth analysis of the current Sino-US and Sino-Japan relations and gave insightful comments on both the advantages and disadvantages of such relations.
