On December 6, 2012, on Changping Campus, CUPL Council Chairperson Shi Yajun met with Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques, and Ms. Taryn Pecora (the Second Secretary and Vice Consul of Canada’s Embassy in China). Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques was invited as a distinguished guest for CUPL's Ambassador Forum.
On behalf of CUPL, Chairperson Shi first extended a warm welcome for Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques and Ms. Pecora, and recounted his experience visiting Canada for the first time. He characterized the cooperation between CUPL and Canadian universities in three words: permanent, close and profound. Chairperson Shi then gave a special introduction to the multi-dimensional, wide-ranging, and comprehensive relationship between our university and the University of Montreal (the Ambassador's alma mater). In addition, Chairperson Shi expressed his hope that, CUPL and its Canadian counterparts would deepen their cooperation on the basis of “the Plan to Enhance Higher Education Innovation Ability” issued by the Chinese government,. Chairperson Shi pointed out 20 countries’ ambassadors to China have been invited to give lectures since the Ambassador Forum was establishmed in 2006. He hoped that the Ambassador’s lecture on environmental protection would be a great success.
Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques extended his gratitude to Chairperson Shi for his friendly reception, and expressed his pleasure in visiting CUPL soon after his appointment. He said that there are many prestigious universities and colleges in Canada. He was glad to learn that CUPL had already formed close cooperation with its Canadian counterparts, including the University of Montreal. He also mentioned that, owing to the rapid economic and social development, he needs to constantly update his understanding of China even though he has served in this country three times before..After the meeting, Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques went out of his way to give his autograph to our faculty members and students as a memento.
At the Ambassador Forum, Ambassador Guy Saint-Jacques gave a lecture titled, “The Challenge of Climate Change and Environmental Protection—To Protect Our World Together.” He detailed the current situation of Canadian environmental protection, the Sino-Canada cooperation in environmental protection, and the challenge of climate and environmental change with examples and data. Professor Li Guoqiang, Deputy Director of the CUPL Office of International Cooperation and Exchange presided over the forum.
