On December 1, the first Houguan Forum, which was guided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and the Education Working Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, and sponsored by Fujian Normal University and the Management Committee of the new campus of Fuzhou Regional University, was held in Qishan Campus both online and offline. Zhang Yan, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department, attended the forum and delivered a speech.
The opening ceremony and the main forum were attended by about 200 people, including Ye Shen, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and president of Fujian Daily, Lin Heping, Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Director of the Fujian Provincial Education Department, Lin Duanyu, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Lin Sheng, Deputy Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Pan Yuteng, secretary of the Party Committee of FNU and deputy secretary Chen Xiaohong, as well as relevant comrades of the Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Education Working Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Fuzhou Municipal Government and Minhou County Government, comrades in charge of various universities and colleges in Fuzhou University Town, experts and scholars in related fields, authors of outstanding papers and representatives of teachers and students.
Zhang Yan pointed out that the General Secretary Xi Jinping attached great importance to the inheritance and promotion of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and made a series of important discussions, which provide a fundamental basis for us to establish the Houguan Forum and continue the Houguan culture. We should make every effort to study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the requirements of the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Provincial Party Committee, fully explore the spiritual connotation of the Houguan culture, and deeply practice the contemporary value of the Houguan culture. We should acquire a deep understanding of patriotism, stimulate the vitality of innovation and creation, vigorously promote the spirit of advocating science, rigorous study, practical work and responsibility. We should also work together and strive to create a new situation of higher education development in Fujian province, and provide rich cultural connotation and powerful talent support for the construction of new Fujian in the new development stage.
Lin Heping highlighted that Fuzhou University Town located in Houguan is a gathering place for talents training and a new highland for scientific research and innovation in Fujian. He hoped that the experts and scholars attending the meeting could jointly explore the roots of Houguan culture and enhance the cultural confidence of Fujian people and teachers as well as students. He hoped that all colleges and universities would actively inherit and carry forward Houguan culture, promote education and teaching reform, improve the quality of talent training and enhance the ability to serve local economic and social development. He also hoped that teachers and students would seriously understand the spiritual connotation of Houguan culture, cultivate patriotic sentiment, take up the mission of the times and strive to be good young people in the new era.
Wang Jiansheng, deputy secretary of Minhou County Party Committee and governor of Minhou County, said that Minhou County will fully support and participate actively and collaboratively in the excavation, protection and inheritance of Houguan culture, and shape Houguan culture into an important cultural identity of the Leading Fujian City in the new era. It will help the youth in the new era to establish patriotism and cultural confidence by cementing Houguan culture into practices of schools and classrooms and stimulating the positive role of Houguan culture in forging the mind and fostering morality education.
At the opening ceremony, the leaders and guests at the meeting jointly launched the first Houguan Forum. The participants watched the Houguan culture theme video produced by FNU, and enjoyed the theme song Houguan is My Home composed by famous artists organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and performed by teachers and students of Music College in FNU, eulogizing the ancient, deep and vibrant land of Houguan.
The main forum was presided by Pan Yuteng. Seven scholars, including Lin Shangli, president of Renmin University of China, Guo Konghui, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Xu Yaotong, first-grade professor of Party School of the CPC Central Committee (Chinese Academy of Governance) and distinguished professor of FNU, Song Jianxiao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Fujian Jiangxia University, Wang Zhenglu, director of Sinology Research Center of FNU, Shen Yuan, descendant of Shen Baozhen, a well-known figure in modern Houguan and deputy secretary general of Lin Zexu Foundation, Zhang Mei, a teacher of FNU, and Ye Jingyi, a student of Fuzhou University, attended the forum. Based on the theme of “Inheriting the Houguan culture and opening up a new picture of University Town”, they explained deep historical accumulation, clear development context, unique spirit, rich connotation of the times and great value of education of Houguan Culture from different perspectives, showing the attraction, affinity, cohesion and creativity of Houguan culture in an all-round and multi-dimensional way.
In addition to the main forum, there were also three sub-forums: The Great Spirit of Patriotism -- The Important Exposition of the General Secretary Xi Jinping on Carrying Forward the Excellent Traditional Chinese Culture, The Revaluation and Deepening Interpretation of Houguan Culture, and The Research on Inheriting Houguan Culture and Cultivating New Generation, which were organized by the College of Marxism, the College of Social History and the College of Education of FNU respectively. By means of lectures, reports, academic salons and symposia, guest lectures, expert comments and discussions between teachers and students have been organized. More than 5,000 people have watched the online live broadcast, which has covered all colleges and universities in Fuzhou University Town, creating a strong atmosphere of academic exchange.
