By Li Senyi | JNU Integrated Media Center

August 22, 2025

On the morning of August 17, nearly 50 representatives from Chinese student organizations at more than 40 top universities across 13 countries gathered at Jinan University as part of the 2025 Overseas Student Association Representative Guangzhou Tour. The event, organized by the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Guangzhou European and American Students Association, offered participants a glimpse of Jinan culture and the city’s charm as part of the broader Look at Guangzhou, Welcome the National Games, and Look to the Future program.

Key participants

•Jiang Fan, Director of the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Affairs Office

•Liang Yan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jinan University Party Committee and Secretary General of the Overseas Friendship Association

Opening remarks and objectives

•Liang Yan welcomed the visiting youths and thanked the Guangzhou office for its long-standing support of Jinan University. She highlighted the university’s status as a leading institution in overseas Chinese education and outlined its talent development platform spanning education, research, and industry-university-research collaboration. Liang urged the students to become “youth ambassadors” who connect Jinan University with the world, showcase Guangzhou opportunities, and attract more overseas talent to pursue their dreams at the university.

•Gu Shiqian, Director of the Human Resources Development and Management Department at Jinan University, outlined talent policies for a national “Double First Class” institution and the country’s premier overseas Chinese university. He described competitive benefits, housing and education support, and streamlined recruitment processes designed to attract top talent from multiple disciplines.

Entrepreneurship and innovation exchange

•Mai Yaohua, President of the European and American Alumni Association at Jinan University, Dean of the New Energy Technology Research Institute, and founder of Guangdong Mailuo Energy Technology Co., Ltd., shared insights from his experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized leveraging overseas graduates’ global perspectives and professional expertise to align innovation with national strategic needs, fostering technological advancement and economic transformation.

Cultural immersion and reflective experience

•Following the discussions, participants visited the History Museum of Jinan University. The tour offered insights into the university’s century-long journey, from its founding and wartime resilience to its current status as a flagship institution for overseas Chinese education. The visit reinforced the “Jinan spirit”— loyalty, sincerity, integrity and respect, unity of knowledge and action, self-improvement, and unity in diversity.

Observations

•The exchange underscored the value of international student networks in promoting cross-cultural understanding and talent mobility.

•The event highlighted Jinan University’s ongoing efforts to attract, nurture, and utilize overseas talents to support national strategies and regional development.