AAUM/U-M’s 2006 visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong

Events
Meetings
Touring
Photo Slideshow from Visit

Events
The May 2006 U-M China Alumni events, hosted by the Alumni Association and the Office of the President, brought together nearly 600 enthusiastic alumni in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The three events were held nearly one year after U-M President Mary Sue Coleman’s visit, during which she urged alumni to come together under the U-M banner to continue U-M’s strong partnership with China.

Guests listened avidly to remarks by Professor Kenneth Lieberthal, U-M Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Political Science, and participated in a lively discussion about the important Chinese international issues. They responded warmly to a “year in review” about U-M offered by Robert Kelch, U-M executive vice president for medical affairs and chief executive officer for U-M Health Systems. And they rose to the occasion when AAUM President Steve Grafton invited them to take advantage of the events to meet each other, share business cards in the “lucky draw” to help update U-M records, and join in singing “The Victors.”

The purpose of the events was to create a place where U-M alumni and friends could meet each other, engage in a stimulating discussion of important issues of the day, get caught up on what is going on at U-M and learn more about how they can work together and with AAUM and U-M to support each other and the University’s interests in China.

It is planned that these events will be held annually and form a central activity around which area alumni will host other regional events throughout the year.

• The Beijing event was held at the Beijing American Club on May 24 with more than 200 alumni and friends. Twenty U-M students greeted guests and staffed the registration table under the leadership of incoming political science student Wang Yuhua. Many alumni helped plan the event and made personal calls to invite participation. They include Sean Zhang of United ITV and his wife, Charlene Zhu, of Ericsson (China) Company, Ltd and their daughters; Julius Li of Autek Bio, Inc.; Qi Longhao of Tsinghua University; Shen Mingming of Peking University; Li Hunglong of China Aluminum Corporation of China, Ltd.; Professor Zhang Siwei of Chinese Tribology Institution and Li Li Leung of Helios, China.
• The Shanghai event was held at the Hilton Hotel on May 26 with nearly 200 alumni and friends. A dozen or more students were organized by incoming mathematics student Yin Qian to greet and register guests. Area alumni who helped plan and promote the event included Tang Yifan of CFI Group; Daniell Chen of Ferreti Group; Zou Hengming of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and his wife, Bao Leilei, of Billion Star Consulting Co.; Craig Isakow of the Oxford Investment Group; Carl Chen of Intel Corporation; Jerry Liu of the Coca Cola Company; David Zhang of IGM Resins (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; and Lawrence Hu of GE Plastics.
• The Hong Kong event was held at the Hong Kong Jockey Club with about 150 alumni and friends. Six students organized by U-M Hong Kong Student Association President Charles Lee and vice president for external relations Samantha Lee welcomed and registered guests. Alumnus and long-time AAUM supporter Fred Lui provided major assistance planning and supporting the event.

Meetings
In meetings planned by Jinyun Liu, director of the U-M Center for China Employment and Labor Relations and long-time advocate for alumni relations programs in China, AAUM President Steve Grafton and Vice President Jo Rumsey participated in organizational meetings with area alumni in Beijing and Shanghai.

The agenda included how AAUM, U-M and local alumni might work together to increase alumni engagement. Discussion topics included using the Web, email communication, how to handle administrative functions, and other activities that are/could be organized by area alumni. Participants included alumni who have long been involved in regional student recruiting and occasional other activities, as well as several recent volunteers who want to help.

Robert Kelch spent a day touring Shanghai Jiao Tong University medical facilities and meeting with SJTU Chairman Madam Ma Dexiu and President Xue Shang-Wu.

Professor Lieberthal was in Asia prior to the U-M delegation’s arrival and stayed beyond its departure. He was involved in numerous conferences and meetings, including an international conference on energy security in Beijing, speeches at the Asia Society and the Hong Kong Forum in Hong Kong, and at the National Singapore University where he also participated in the Annual Shangri-La Dialogue meeting in Singapore.

Steve Grafton led a seminar in Hong Kong on behalf of CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) International. Participants from a range of educational institutions discussed models for alumni engagement and fundraising.

Touring
The AAUM is grateful to alumnus Sean Zhang who personally guided Dr. Kelch and his wife, Jeri, and Steve Grafton and Jo Rumsey to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Pearl Market, and – very significantly from the delegation’s point of view – the Great Wall from the Simatai entrance.

The delegation is also grateful to alumna Bao Leilei who arranged for Shanghai tours to the Bund, Old Town, the Confucian Temple and Yuyuan Garden.