At Renmin University of China in Beijing, Kyokyo-kai (Kyoto University alumni association in the Beijing area, consisting of Kyoto University graduates and its former students from China residing in the suburbs of Beijing) and Kyoto University jointly held a symposium titled "Message from the Great East Japan Earthquake: Building a Japan-China Disaster Cooperation Network," with the attendance of roughly eighty participants.
In planning and preparing for this symposium, Kyokyo-kai (led by Hiroshi Matsuno, who is the association's president and deputy-director at Nomura Research Institute - Tsinghua University China Research Center as well as a 1979 graduate from the Faculty of Engineering) played a central role, with support from the JSPS Beijing Office, the Embassy of Japan in Beijing, and the Association of Chinese Alumni in Japan, in addition to assistance from the Japan Foundation. From Kyoto University, Executive Vice-President Yuzo Ohnishi, Professor Eiichi Taniguchi from the Graduate School of Engineering, and Professor Hirokazu Tatano from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute gave lectures on the current status of restoration efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Then, from among the Chinese participants, two graduates who occupy leading positions in today's China--Associate Professor Zhou Yangping from Tsinghua University (2005 graduate from the Graduate School of Energy Science) and Mr. Jin Zhiyan, a CCTV reporter (2009 graduate from the Graduate School of Economics)--spoke about how the Chinese public responded to the earthquake. Following their reports, specialists from Renmin University of China and the Chinese Academy of Governance gave some comments. Later, a lively question and answer session with the audience followed, attesting to the height of interest provoked by the symposium.
At the social gathering held after the symposium, following a speech by Executive Vice-President Ohnishi, Mr. Akira Kanzawa (1972 graduate from the Faculty of Engineering) and Mr. Li Deheng (1999 graduate from the Graduate School of Energy Science), representing the Japanese and Chinese members, respectively, gave speeches. The participants then spent some time socializing in a friendly atmosphere.
The first plan of this symposium was proposed by the Beijing alumni members when Executive Vice-President Ohnishi visited the Beijing alumni in late March. It was later realized through the alumni's active efforts in involving groups interested in China-Japan relations in Beijing. As overseas graduates form alumni associations in different regions of the world one after another, they are expected in the future to play active roles in further disseminating information on Kyoto University.
 From left, President Matsuno from the Beijing alumni association, Executive Vice-President Ohnishi, Professor Taniguchi and Professor Tatano | |
 Speech by Mr. Kanzawa |  Speech by Mr. Li |
 Symposium |  Social gathering |