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Alumni in China celebrate 35 years of Chevening with HRH the Duke of York, KG
The celebration in Shanghai was a unique opportunity for Chevening Alumni to share their experiences of the UK with the Duke, and to showcase the impact that Chevening has had on their lives and careers.
The exclusive reception was held in Shanghai, where the Duke was leading the UK Delegation for the China International Import Expo (CIIE). The celebration was a unique opportunity for Chevening Alumni to share their experiences of the UK with the Duke, and to showcase the impact that Chevening has had on their lives and careers.
To mark this special occasion, representatives of the alumni community presented HRH with a Chinese scroll, reading ‘35 Years of Chevening’ in traditional Chinese calligraphy.
With one of the world’s largest and most diverse networks of Chevening Alumni in the world, the Chevening China Alumni Network—known affectionately in-country as ‘the China Chevening Family’—continues to host a wide variety of events and initiatives that provide platforms for younger generations to be inspired by Chevening.
British Ambassador to China, Barbara Woodward, hosted over 100 Chevening Alumni and their families from across China at her Residence in Beijing in July. Among the guests was China’s first Chevening Scholar, Mr Lu Qinfang. Speaking at the event, the ambassador shared the following thoughts with guests:
‘Today, it is our hope that all of you will look back on the last three and half decades with warmth and happiness. We hope that you enjoy your time with friends old and new, and share thoughts and ideas inspired by your time as a Chevening Scholar or Fellow. In reflecting your past triumphs, we may enjoy a collective sense of satisfaction for all the good you have done and continue to do, looking firmly towards a bright future for China, and for our bilateral relationship during this Golden Era for UK-China relations.’
In July 2018, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field celebrated 35 years of Chevening with the Chevening community in South West China. Speaking in Chongqing, the Minister said:
‘The China Chevening scholarship programme is not only designed to develop the potential of talented individuals. It is also designed to strengthen the close personal ties between our countries, for many years to come.’
Since 1983, Chevening has supported over 50,000 of the brightest, most influential and promising scholars from across the globe, including over 4,000 people from all provinces across China.
This network consists of passionate individuals across all fields who are engaged in world issues, and intent on deepening knowledge and understanding between the UK and China. With the highest number of Chevening Scholars in the world, Chevening continues to sow the seeds for a UK-China Global Partnership that works for all, creating a global community of future leaders that are equipped to respond to the greatest challenges of our time.