LAPost, Los Angeles (February 25, 2024) – On the evening of February 24, the China Institute at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSUN-CSSA) jointly hosted a lively Chinese New Year dinner at the Student Center on campus. Nearly 200 faculty, staff, students, and community representatives from both on and off campus enjoyed a festive evening filled with traditional Chinese cultural elements. Education Consuls Sun Xuejing and Yang Lijun from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles, along with CSUN Provost Meera Komarraju and Dean of the College of Humanities Jeffrey Reeder, were invited to attend and delivered speeches expressing their gratitude to the China Institute for its long-standing contributions to enriching the campus’s diverse culture.

Meera Komarraju, Provost of California State University, Northridge (Photo by: Richard Ren)

Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Jeffrey Reeder (Photo by: Richard Ren)

Sun Xuejing, Education Consul at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles (Photo by Richard Ren)

Dr. Wei Cao, the current director of the China Institute at California State University, Northridge, stated that this year’s annual banquet includes celebrating achievements, recognizing contributions, fundraising, and building community awareness to support the China Institute’s mission and goals: to build and strengthen connections between California State University, Northridge, and Chinese academic institutions . Dr. Cao foster mutual understanding, and create a harmonious environment where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to celebrate, learn, and appreciate the richness of Chinese culture. In the long term, the China Institute is committed to making projects and activities . We also aspire to strengthen community ties and enhance cultural awareness through the transformative power of educational and cultural engagement between the US and China . Therefore, we welcome sponsorship from individuals, businesses, and cultural organizations with similar visions and values.

Professor Sun Weimin (center) was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution Award” by the Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The award ceremony was presented by Professor Su Zhixin (left) and Professor Cao Wei (right). (Photo by: Richard Ren)

Wei-Min Sun, the outgoing director and professor of philosophy at the China Institute at California State University, Northridge, was awarded the Institute’s “Outstanding Contribution Award” that evening. The presenters included former director Professor Zhi-Xin Su and current director Professor Wei Cao. Dr. Sun, who recently stepped down, stated, “During the pandemic, the China Institute further strengthened its ties with the local community, including with other Asian and African American communities, to raise its voice against racial discrimination and for social justice. We also deepened our cooperation with the local Chinese community and received strong support from organizations such as the Chinese American Foundation, jointly contributing to the dissemination and promotion of Chinese culture.”

（Photo by: Richard Ren)

The opening performance featured a showcase of traditional Chinese culture, with young people of Chinese descent dressed in costumes from different dynasties reciting classic poems from their respective eras. This was accompanied by a screen displaying the poems in both Chinese and English, guiding the guests to understand and appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture throughout different periods.

（Photo by: Richard Ren)

The Tai Chi performance led by Master Guan Jingshun conveyed the integrity of this art form in its transmission. Several of the performers were professors from Northridge University.

（Photo by: Richard Ren)

The performance of “Blue and White Porcelain” by Luo Yuting, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association and an international student from Dongying, Shandong, in collaboration with piano teacher Katerina Panferova, expressed their reverence for traditional Chinese culture and allowed the guests to fully experience the romantic spirit of China.

(Photo by: Richard Ren)

Teacher Feng (Feng Chen) Dance Troupe’s adult team presented the guests with a dance from the Silk Road called “Why Are the Flowers So Red,” showcasing people’s yearning for love, friendship, and a beautiful life.

Violinist Aaron Liu (Photo by Richard Ren)

14-year-old Chinese violinist Aaron Liu won first prize at the CECILIA International Competition in Tokyo last year. His solo performance of “Carmen Fantasy” impressed the audience with his superb skills and interpretation of the piece.

Andrew Andrini （Photo by: Richard Ren)

The gala also featured a special guest performer, renowned magician Andrew Andrini, who gave a spectacular show.

From left: Consul Yang Lijun, Professor Cao Wei, Consul Sun Xuejing (Photo by: Richard Ren)

Professor Justine Su, who served as the director of the Institute of Chinese Studies for 20 years from 1995 to 2015, explained: “Our university was one of the first in the United States to establish a Institute of Chinese Studies and the first to establish formal exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities. At that time, there was no Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. The Chinese delegation that participated in the 1984 Olympics was received and celebrated with the help of professors and Chinese Studies. The earliest international students included famous film actresses Joan Chen and Zhang Yu. Olympic gymnastics champion Li Ning also served as an honorary advisor to the Institute of Chinese Studies.”

From left: Professor Cao Wei, Professor Su Zhixin (Photo by: Richard Ren)

Professor Su Zhixin recalled, “Our university began cooperating and exchanging ideas with Chinese universities in the early 1980s, carrying out various types of educational and cultural exchange activities. These included the China Science Education Teacher Training Program supported by a World Bank loan project, a comparative study of science education between China and the United States, a China Principal and Teacher Training Program, a comparative study of principals and teachers between China and the United States, a China Hospital Management Training Program, training programs for leaders and cadres in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Dalian, training programs for university leaders and key teachers, a Shanghai ‘shadow’ principal training program, 2+2 cooperative degree programs (majors such as finance, art, hospital management, music, and engineering), and a cooperative postgraduate training program in educational leadership. Our university’s jazz band, faculty and students from the Department of Drama and Film, and the girls’ choir have all participated in music and drama festivals in China, performed in collaboration with Chinese universities, and received enthusiastic coverage from the Chinese media!”

According to reports, even during the pandemic, the China Institute at California State University, Northridge, still accepted visiting scholars from Chinese universities to conduct research on campus.

Ceramic artist and visual arts professor Patsy Cox received a Chinese New Year gift box from the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Affairs Office during a raffle. (Photo by Richard Ren)

Representatives from the All-American Chinese Youth Federation presented 20 Lunar New Year gift boxes from the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Affairs Office as prizes for the evening’s lucky draw. One of the winners was Patsy Cox, a ceramic artist and professor of visual arts at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and former president of the National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts (NCECA). She praised the gift box’s design for successfully blending traditional and modern elements of Shanghai. (By: Richard Ren/LAPost)