In the afternoon of May 24th, 2023, the Book Donation Ceremony by Consul General Chen Baoshun and Consul Shen Yiyuan was held at the College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University. The ceremony was held by deputy dean of the College of Foreign Languages, Professor Li Min. The Chair of the Italian Department Associate Professor Yang Lin, Ni Yang, Ruan Yufeng, Letizia Vallini, Liang Song from the Office of Education and Research and student representatives also attended the event.
The ceremony kicked off with the welcoming remarks by Professor Li Min, who introduced the career and translation achievements of Mr. Chen Baoshun and Mrs. Shen Yiyuan. He expressed his admiration and gratitude for their contribution to China’s diplomacy as the witness and supporter to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and China. Professor Li also conveyed his hope that the students could cherish the donated books and strive to learn the Italian language and culture, and contribute to the communication between the two countries taking their predecessors as the example.
Mrs. Shen later gave a speech. She recalled that she and Mr. Chen Baoshun were both graduates from the English Department of Shanghai International Studies University and were sent to Italy to study Italian language. Later it turned out that the decision by then Bureau of Higher Education was made in accordance with directives from Premier Zhou Enlai, who stressed the need for cultivating diplomatic professionals to facilitate PRC’s diplomacy with other countries. At the airport, Mr. Chen and the others met with the Premier who encouraged them to “study hard and make our country proud”. Mrs. Shen said “it was inspiration to us all. Here at Nankai University, one couldn’t help but thinking that our fates, lives and careers are all inseparable from Premier Zhou.”
Mrs. Shen also mentioned three major events she went through in her career as a diplomat: China and Italy mutually set up semi-official Office of Commercial Representatives in 1965; the two countries established diplomatic relations and embassies in 1970; and the Consulate-General of the PRC in Milan was opened in 1985. In the end, Mrs. Shen encouraged students to work hard on their language study, hoping they can utilize their language skills to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
Professor Li Min then bestowed Mr. Shen the donation certificate.
At the seminar session, Mrs. Shen discussed the customs, traditions and her experiences in Sicily and other parts of Italy with faculties and students from the Italian Department. She highlighted the importance of in-depth knowledge on the nation’s realties apart from language study to enhance Area Studies. She also encouraged students to be confident about the future, and seize opportunities for improving their abilities and gathering experience.
The event concluded with Mrs. Shen’s visit to the Center for Academic Resources of the College and the Book Donation Shelf, accompanied by Professor Li Min, Associate Professor Yang Lin and other faculties from the Italian Department. This ceremony and seminar gave students a chance to speak to the witness and supporter to the China-Italy relations in person. The students found Mrs. Shen’s past highly rewarding and inspirational, giving them a more profound understanding on the mission for students of language studies.
Introduction on the Books Donated by Consul General Chen Baoshun and Consul Shen Yiyuan
Mr. Chen Baoshun (1936-2023) and Mrs. Shen Yiyuan are a married couple in the diplomatic community. They studied in Sapienza University of Rome in Italy and University of Geneva in Switzerland starting from 1959. They worked in the Department of West European Affairs and the Administrative Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC and also in various posts in China’s diplomatic institutions in Italy. In 1965, they witnessed the founding of PRC’s first semi-official Office of Commercial Representatives in Rome, Italy. They were also involved in the establishment of Chinese embassy in Italy in 1970, and they were appointed as the first Consul General and Consul for Overseas Chinese Affairs in 1985 when Consulate-General of the PRC in Milan opened. Mr. Chen was also the Director of the Administrative Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. Both of them have made significant contributions to the development of China-Italy relations.
In 1993, Mr. Chen and Mrs. Shen was awarded a medal by the Italian President. Mr. Chen was also awarded another medal by the Italian President in 2005. He was also the President of Italian Branch of the Western Returned Scholar Association and the Association’s Honorary President, as well as three-time Standing Deputy President and Chair of the Advisory Committee of the General Assembly of the Association. Mrs. Shen was also the member of the Women’s Committee of the General Assembly of the Western Returned Scholar Association.
The Translator Association of China conferred upon Mr. Chen the title “Senior Translator”. The couple translated and published Europa unita songno dei saggi (European Unity, the Dreams of the Sages─ History of ideas on European Unity) into Chinese. Mr. Chen also translated and published the work by reputed artist Huang Yongyu, From the Seine to Firenze into Italian in 2014. Mrs. Shen was also involved in the proofreading and publication review of Selected Works of Mao Zedong and Quotations from Chairman Mao when she worked in China Foreign Language Publishing Administration in 1969. The couple also wrote many essays about customs and traditions in Italy, Vatican and San Marino for newspapers and magazines, leaving invaluable treasures for the cultural exchanges between two countries.
Mr. Chen died of illness on Jan 23, 2023. Mrs. Shen, on behalf of Mr. Chen and herself, donated their lifelong book collections to the Center for Academic Resources, College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University, including 320 art books in Chinese and Italian and Italian original works. They provide detailed accounts on Italian language, literature, history, geography, politics, economy, culture, art, music, China-Italy relations, cultural exchanges between two countries, etc. These valuable donations represent the broad mind and high hopes of the old generation of diplomatic professionals, and offer important values for the College’s teaching and research, for boosting the College’s Italian Language Program and Italian Studies , and also for expanding the global and academic perspective of the students and faculties.
May the students and faculties care for and thoroughly read the donated works, honor the predecessors’ contribution and carry forward their spirit.
