onfucius China Studies Program Young Leaders Fellowship 2016 was held October 16 on Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)’s Hongkou Campus to enhance the economic and cultural ties between China and other countries.

SISU Vice President Yang Li appreciated at the welcoming ceremony that the U.S. Youth Leaders Program chose SISU to hold the activity and introduced the university’s contribution in developing overseas Confucius Institutes. He hoped that the activity will benefits people’s understanding of China and deepen the cooperation between China and the United States.

Kimberly Nicole Griffiin, the leader of the delegation, thanked SISU’s Office of Confucius Institute for organizing this activity well, which impress her and make her better understand China.

Paulina Andrea Guzman Andrade of the World Affairs Council, a representative of the members, expressed her expectations and the desire of understanding China.

After the welcoming ceremony, Shangwu Zhang, professor of Tongji University and Vice-President of Architecture and Urban Planning College introduced 2040 Shanghai’s strategy of urban planning and development in a lecture. The delegation members asked relevant questions and said the lecture made them systematically understand Shanghai’s future plans.

During the visit, the delegation members all had a better understanding of Chinese development of economy and investment by visiting Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, Suzhou Industrial Park Hi-Tech Incubator Zone, Shanghai Free Trade Area and Lujiazui International Financial City. They also visited a series of tourist resorts to understand Chinese culture, including the Suzhou Humble Administrator's Garden, Yu Garden and City God Temple of Shanghai.

The welcoming ceremony was chaired by Professor Zhang Xuemei, the director of the Confucius Institute in SISU.

In 2015, SISU successfully became the latest experimental institution of the NOCFL's "Confucius New Sinology Plan". The Confucius New Sinology Program, established in November 2012 by the Confucius Institute Headquarters, aims at helping young people from all over the world have a good understanding of Chinese culture, promoting the development of Confucius Institutes and enhancing the ties between China and other countries.

Confucius China Studies Program Young Leaders Fellowship 2016 is one of the visiting-China programs organized by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) this year.

14 members of the program come from some internationally known enterprises and organizations, including AGCO Corporation, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Marriott hotel, Porsche SE, Atlanta Canadian consulate general, Dean Rusk-Jackson Rumsfeld International Airport, the World Affairs Council, Acuity lamps, Drapac capital, AJC.

This program aims for letting the leader of the American business sector understand in depth to Chinese economic, Chinese rapid developments in enterprise, business, education and culture, and exploring new opportunities in the business cooperation.