September 14th, 2017, Institute of China Studies held its 2017welcome ceremony at the Art & Science Building Atrium, Haining International Campus. Executive Associate Dean of International Campus He Lianzhen, Vice Dean of International Campus K.C. Ting, Director of Institute of China Studies Fan Jieping and the teacher representatives attended the welcome ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by China Studies’ students of class 2016 David and Alesia. The student representatives of China Studies class 2016 and all the staff of Institute of China Studies were also present.

With the sinuous melody of the traditional masterpiece “Butterfly Lovers”, the guests entered the stage in turn. Dean He Lianzhen made a speech on behalf of the International Campus. She warmly welcomed the 98 freshmen of China Studies class 2017 from 35 countries and congratulated them on joining in the big ZJU family with 600 thousand members. Dean He pointed out that China is a country with a long and splendid history and has made a huge contribution to human civilization and world culture. As a top University with a 120-year history, Zhejiang University aims at  cultivating high-quality first-class talents with good personality. She emphasized that in the current age of globalization，the combination of Chinese and Western culture and the interdisciplinary integration are the necessary trends, so she hoped that the youth from different countries could work together and create bright future in China –an ancient but vibrant country – and in Haining International Campus –a brand-new place with deep tradition.

Afterwards, Dean Ting summarized his expectation of the freshmen’s study life in ZJUI with 8 words: Work, Inspire, Living, Learning, Relevant, Impactful, Significant and Exciting. He even combined the 8 words in one: “WILL RISE”, expressing his wish for the freshmen.

Director Fan retrospected the history of the Institute of China Studies. From the foundation 20 years ago, to the establishment in 2010 and till now, it has attracted international students from more than 30 countries. He hopes that the freshmen could seize the chance to experience and understand the real Chinese people and Chinese society.

The teacher representatives Jiang Wentao, Ma Qun and Zhang Xingkui successively explained what is China Studies and how to learn China Studies well from the perspective of their own professional field. They illustrated the research category of China Studies clearly with several examples and aroused the freshmen's interest in it.

The students representative of class 2016 Maria shared with the freshmen her experience of campus life and experience in learning. The freshmen representative Athey, who graduated from Oxford University, expressed his love for ZJU and he was looking forward to learning China Studies.

At the end of the ceremony came the traditional program of Institute of China Studies -- popping champagne, cutting the cake and cheering for the new semester.