HONG KONG – The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) recently hosted a special "Ambassadors Talk on Campus" lecture, featuring two veteran Chinese diplomats who shared firsthand experiences from the frontlines of diplomacy.
The event, aimed at broadening students' international perspectives, gathered hundreds of faculty members and students at the university's Tai Po campus on Friday.
Co-hosted with China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), the lecture featured Luo Linquan, Vice-President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, and Sun Gongyi, a former Chinese ambassador to Mauritius. The distinguished diplomats drew on their extensive careers to provide insights into China's diplomatic practices and international relations.
In his welcome remarks, EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin emphasized the significance of diplomatic engagement.
"Diplomacy safeguards national interests while reflecting a nation's civilizational values and confidence in its system, as well as strategic foresight and global vision in navigating complex international relations," Lee said.
The ambassadors shared compelling anecdotes from their diplomatic careers. Luo recounted China's largest overseas evacuation during the 2011 Libyan civil war, where the Chinese Embassy in Greece coordinated the successful evacuation of 13,185 Chinese nationals using three cruise ships, 131 chartered flights, and over 700 coaches. This operation demonstrated the central government's people-centered diplomatic philosophy.
Sun focused on China-Africa relations, highlighting the practical implementation of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative during his tenure in Mauritius, which resulted in China becoming the island nation's largest trading partner. His presentation illustrated the evolving nature of China's diplomatic engagement with African partners.
During a Q&A session moderated by Lee, students engaged with the ambassadors on topics ranging from contemporary Chinese diplomatic strategies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's future role in global affairs. The university also facilitated live streaming of the event to local secondary schools, expanding its educational impact.
The event marked an important implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between EdUHK and CFAU in March 2025 to establish the Institute for International Relations. This partnership aims to enhance research and education in international relations and Chinese foreign affairs, reflecting EdUHK's commitment to fostering global perspectives among students.
