National Week of China 2017

Date: 09/01/2017—15/01/2017

The National Week series at the College of Europe of the John Maynard Keynes Promotion marked its beginning with the National Week of China from 9 to 15 January 2017. Organized by the small Chinese student community of this promotion,  with the generous sponsorship of the China Chamber of International Commerce, the National Week of China provided College of Europe students from different national backgrounds with opportunities to get to know and understand different aspects of this dynamic strategic partner of the EU in the east through a variety of successful events.

Cultural Event: "Write Down Your Spring"

On the evening of 11 January 2017,  more than 30 College of Europe students joined this kick-off cultural event on Chinese characters and calligraphy at the very Chinese-style China Library in Verversdijk. After a basic video introduction to the Chinese character system and traditional calligraphy tools, students learned to write several characters from the easiest number 1 to the rather complex character signifying 'Spring' using a writing brush and ink in a very traditional way under the instruction of their Chinese colleagues.

National Week Cuisine

On 12 January 2017, the national week team served a Chinese lunch for all College students, staff and faculty in the restaurant decorated in Chinese New Year style to celebrate Chinese New Year in advance with the whole College community. Besides the Chinese meal, New Year snacks and Red Envelopes, two indispensable elements of Chinese New Year, added to the festive atmosphere.

Study Trip to the Business and Trade Sector of the Mission of China to the EU

On 13 January 2017, in cooperation with the China in Focus student team, 11 College students interested in EU-China economic relations made a successful and fruitful study trip to the Business and Trade Sector of the Mission of China to the EU, where students were received by Councilor Yu XIANG for a lunch and attended a Q&A seminar on hot topics of EU-China economic relations.

Movie Screening: Hero & Chinese Mayor

On the evenings of 13 and 14 January 2017, one classic Chinese movie about the unification of ancient China, Hero, and a documentary providing a glimpse of today’s complicated Chinese society, Chinese Mayor, were shown to students—with the help of Cinéclub—as the closing event of National Week of China 2017.