On 18 October, Liaoning University’s “Home・Ginkgo Stories” themed forum and the 3rd Annual Global Alumni Association Conference opened at the Puhe Campus, Liaoning University (LNU). Party Secretary Pan Yishan attended the ecent and delivered a speech. University leaders Zhang Hongxin, Huo Chunhui and Wang Peng were also present. More than 400 participants took part in the opening ceremony, including donors representatives of major programs, members of the LNU Education Foundation Board and the Alumni Association Board, heads of regional alumni chapters, distinguished alumni nominated by schools and colleges, alumni-work consultants, faculty members in charge of alumni affairs, current students and alumni-service volunteers.
In his speech, Pan Yishan warmly congratulated the forum’s convening and extended sincere welcome to alumni delegates who had travelled from afar as well as to friends from all sectors who have long supported the development of the university. He noted that every breakthrough and achievement in LNU’s 77-year history has been inseparable from alumni’s unwavering generosity and from society’s profound trust and selfless donations. On behalf of all faculty and students he expressed heartfelt gratitude to alumni who have cared for and contributed to the university’s development, and to organizations and individuals that have rendered outstanding service to LNU. Pan shared three moving stories that illustrate the two-way devotion between alumni and their alma mater. These tales, filled with original aspiration and warmth, vividly interpret the deep bond that LNUers will always be passionate about about their alma mater, evoking strong resonance among the audience. He also put forward four hope for regional alumni chapters：Be a warm haven for alumni affection, so that LNU’s global family can feel the warmth of home wherever they are；Serve as a hub for university-enterprise cooperation, building bridges for industry-academia-research collaboration and promoting efficient matching of regional and corporate resources; Become an engine powering the university’s development, pooling alumni wisdom and strength to inject strong momentum into LNU’s “Double First-Class” development; Strive to be a wellspring of vitality for the revitalization of Liaoning and Shenyang, guiding alumni to participate deeply in local development and demonstrating LNU’s responsibility while serving national strategies. In conclusion, Pan used the ginkgo as a metaphor for LNU spirit, expressing the hope that alumni would take this forum as a new starting point for deeper cooperation, and promising that the university will improve alumni-service systems and build better exchange platforms.
Zhang Hongxin announced the winners of the “Annual Public-Interest Model” award
Huo Chunhui announced the list of “Alumni Pilot Mentors”
Wang Peng announced the recipients of the “Five-Star Alumni Home”
Bai Qinxian, honorary president of the LNU Alumni Association, a renowned senior economist and financier, a winner of the “Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Financial Research Award” and the “Lifetime Achievement Award for Chinese Finance”, addressed the gathering. He greeted guests and alumni, stating that in every LNU graduate’s heart, the alma mater remains an irreplaceable spiritual home. For decades, generations of alumni and the university have been closely linked in a two- way journey, together writing touching chapters of institutional development.
The opening ceremony included the signing ceremony for major donor projects in 2025. Pan Yishan signed agreements with Ni Xincai, Chair of Liaoning Min-shang Public-Welfare Foundation, Xu Yunlong, recruitment director of BYD Co., Ltd. Human Resources Department, Zhang Jinfan, “People’s Educator” National Honorary Title holder, lifetime professor and doctoral supervisor at China University of Political Science and Law, Liu Shuguang, executive director & general manager of Jiangsu Yixing Derong Technology Co., Ltd., chair of Liaoning Kejing New Material Co., Ltd., and honorary adviser to the LNU Alumni Association.
Xu Yunlong spoke on behalf of donors, recalling how the university motto had influenced him. He explained that the “BYD Scholarship” will reward not only academic high-flyers but also students with outstanding innovation and practical ability, voicing BYD’s wish to deepen cooperation and jointly cultivate talent.
Zhang Xiaohong, deputy director of LNU’s China Financial Research Institute, deputy secretary-general of the Alumni Association and vice-president of the Shenyang Alumni Chapter, spoke as recipient of the “Annual Public-Interest Model” award. Recalling her youthful years on campus, she expressed deep affection for her alma mater, pride in its rapid progress and full confidence in its future.
Pan Yishan presented letters of appointment to mentor representatives and awarded the “Five-Star Alumni Home” plaques to five schools and colleges: School of Finance and Trade, College of Chemistry, Division of History, Business School and School of Environment.
Hong Rong, Party Secretary of the College of Chemistry, responded on behalf of the schools. She pledged to use the “Five-Star Alumni Home” as an opportunity to advance work in emotional bonding, win-win development and spiritual inheritance, thereby supporting LNU’s “Double First-Class” construction.
Before the opening ceremony all participants observed a moment of silence for alumni who had passed away since the last annual meeting, honoring their contributions to the university.
The “Home・Ginkgo Stories” themed forum featured four alumni from the class of 1978, Liu Shuguang, Chen Xiuquan, professor at Dalian Maritime University, Qiao Xiaochun, editor-in-chief of China Population and Development Studies, vice-chair of the International Commission on Historical Demography, professor at Peking University, Zhao Xiaodong, professor at Yanshan University, chief expert of the Chinese University Evaluation and Development Research Center, foreign researcher at Meijo University (Japan), visiting professor at California State University (USA). The forum was moderated by Zheng Yuting, alumna, deputy secretary-general of the LU Beijing Alumni Chapter and founder of Orange Heart (Beijing) International Culture and Art Co., Ltd. Speakers shared ginkgo-related youthful memories and, drawing on personal experience and contemporary development, offered new interpretations and extensions of these campus recollections, triggering emotional resonance among teachers, students and alumni.
In the afternoon, the 3rd Presidents’ Forum of LNU Global Alumni Associations and the annual alumni conference brought together heads of regional chapters from North America, Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shenyang and elsewhere. They reported on their chapters’ development, summed up past experience and looked ahead to future plans, setting directions for high-quality alumni work university-wide.
