Ambassador Liu Jian, China’s consul-general for Los Angeles
Ambassador Jian Liu, China’s consul-general for Los Angeles, is bringing a delegation to California State University, Northridge, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, to mark the donation of more than 2,000 books to the university’s library to expand student and faculty understanding of China.
Liu and China’s Consuls for Educational Affairs Wieheng Chen and Liqun Li will join CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison for a special ceremony at noon in the Jack and Florence Ferman Presentation Room of CSUN’s Delmar T. Oviatt Library, located at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.
“CSUN has a very long history of relationships with China,” said Harrison,
who visited China in September to meet with sister campus officials and members of CSUN’s China-based alumni networks. “We treasure those bonds, and we appreciate the generosity of the Chinese government in this valuable educational gift, which we will also share with our local schools that teach Chinese language and culture.”
Liu has spent more than 30 years as a career diplomat, serving in strategic appointments around the world, including as China’s ambassador in Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan. He was appointed China’s consul-general for Los Angeles earlier this year.
Cal State Northridge has a long history of collaboration with China. CSUN was one of the first American universities to pursue educational and cultural exchanges with Chinese universities when the late-President James Cleary signed CSUN’s first foreign student exchange agreement in 1981. A year later, CSUN established its China Institute to promote a better understanding of the Chinese culture and to strengthen friendship between the American and Chinese people.
Today, CSUN has MOUs and letters of intent with about 50 universities in China. These agreements have helped to promote the academic and cultural exchange of faculty and students through joint teaching, research, creative projects, visiting professor opportunities and other projects. Hundreds of students from China have studied at CSUN, and faculty have participated in exchange programs.
Several years ago, the Chinese consulate donated more than 1,000 Chinese language and culture books to the Oviatt Library as a resource for CSUN students and members of the community to learn more about China and its people.
Mark Stover, dean of the Oviatt Library, said the most recent donation of books covers a wide range of topics, from language acquisition to the history and culture of China.
“The donation means a lot to us because we realize and recognize that China is opening up more and more, and many of our students are from mainland China,” Stover said. “It’s also important for a graduate of CSUN to understand Chinese culture, history and language. Plus, the Oviatt Library is a valuable resource, not just for the San Fernando Valley, but all of Southern California, and this is a great opportunity for residents of the region to have access to information about China.”