Representatives of the Anhui Provincial Government, including the Environmental Protection Bureau, and the Maryland
Department of the Environment (MDE) at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, September 30, 2005, at MDE Headquarters
photo taken on January 27 in Shanghai, China when Roger
Lawrence met with Li Yongsheng, the newly appointed Director General of the
Anhui People’s Foreign Affairs Office. From left to right: Mr. Ning Shao,
Director and Chief Representative, Maryland Center China; Ms. May Wang,
Maryland Center China; Roger Lawrence, Vice President, McCormick & Company,
and Chair, Maryland-Anhui Sister State Executive Committee; Mr. Li Yongsheng,
Director General, Anhui People’s Foreign Affairs Office (APFAO); Ms. Huang
Yuhua, Director, Asia & Pacific Affairs Division, APFAO; Mr. Sun Zhipeng,
Director, Euro-African Affairs Division, APFAO.
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FACTS:
Population: 60.70 million
Governor: Wang Sanyun
Capital: Hefei
Major Cities: Huangshan, Bengbu, Tongling, Ma'anshan
Executive Committee Chair: Roger Lawrence, McCormick and Co., Inc.
Map: Anhui Province, China
MOU: Agreement signed 1980
In conjunction with the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall/Baltimore Symphony
Orchestra, the China Ministry of Culture/Embassy of the People's Republic
of China, and World Artists Experiences, and the Maryland China Business
Council, the Maryland - Anhui Sister State Program is proud to present
China Traditional Orchestra Anhui on Friday, February 25. For more information,
click here: China
Traditional Orchestra.
The Maryland – Anhui Sister State Committee in conjunction with the Maryland China Business
Council and the Baltimore – Xiamen Sister Cities Committee are organizing a mission to China
in late August and early September 2010. More details can be found at
2010 China Business and
Trade Mission
The Anhui Sister States Committee, most notably the Education
Subcommittee, is proud to acknowledge this wonderful contribution to the
Rural Libraries Project by students and alumni of the University of Maryland Smith School of
Business. Click on the link to read more about how they are supporting the
on-going project which has established more than 20 libraries in rural Anhui
Province.
Mr. R. Zhang, Standing Vice-Director-General of the Anhui
Provincial Education Department, and members of the education delegation
pose with Dr. and Mrs. Robert Caret at a reception hosted by the Carets. Dr.
Caret is the President of Towson University which played a significant role
in planning and executing the bilateral education forum.
Maryland, Chinese experts participate in higher education forum
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2008) – As part of Maryland’s Sister State
program sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State, higher education
experts from Maryland and its sister province Anhui, China met last Friday
in Baltimore City to discuss their successes and how to work with each other
to promote a stronger cross-country relationship.
The Second Maryland-Anhui Presidents’ Forum on Higher Education was
kicked off by Secretary of Higher Education James E. Lyons, Sr., his Anhui
counterpart, Mr. Zhang Rongguo, First Deputy Director General Anhui
Provincial Education Department, and acting-Secretary of State Dennis
Schnepfe. Both Secretary Lyons and Secretary Schnepfe brought greetings from
Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, saying the
administration was strongly supportive of the mission and vision of the
forum.
Fifteen Chinese higher education officials joined with Secretary Lyons,
USM Chancellor William E. “Brit” Kirwan, Maryland Independent Colleges and
University Association President Tina Bjarekull and other two-year and
four-year private college and university presidents at the forum.
All discussed the challenges both countries’ higher education systems
will be facing over the next few decades. The American and Chinese
contingents agreed that economic and workforce development, university and
technology transfer, and meeting the needs of the community were all
important goals that Maryland and the Anhui province have addressed and can
improve upon by working together to share successes in higher education.
Mr Zhang began by saying that in spite of the difference between the
systems of higher education in Anhui Province and Maryland, both groups of
presidents and university leaders are facing the same challenges. Their
mission is not to pass on knowledge, but to train students to be specialists
in their respective professions. Educators also need to increase students'
sense of the civic responsibility, particularly local colleges and
universities. To help facilitate technology transfer, Mr. Zhang said he
hopes that more business professionals will be able to join the groups'
discussions in the future, aspiring for a true collaboration of business,
government and universities.
Secretary Lyons acknowledged that Friday's Presidents' Forum was a
positive learning experience. He, too, said he was pleasantly surprised with
the similarities of opportunities facing Anhui Province's higher education
professionals in the areas of economic development, community development
and technology transfer. He said he believed that the two groups had
identified their agenda for going forward and will consider the strengths of
all as they work together.
In particular, Secretary Lyons said the Maryland Higher Education
Commission needs an international focus. The Secretary concluded that he
would like to involve more Maryland institutions with this initiative. |
