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Distinguished Minister Lim Swee Say
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Community Development, Youth and Sports, Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong
Chairman of Business China, Mr Chua Thian Poh & Board of Directors
Education Counsellor of China Embassy in Singapore, Madam Zhou Jian Ping
Director, MOE Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Mrs Chua-Lim Yen Ching
Principal, Pioneer Junior College, Mrs Tan-Kek Lee Yong
Distinguished Guests, Speakers, Teachers and Students,
Good morning!
I am heartened by the overwhelming participation of the “China-Quotient Student Forum” this morning. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Minister Lim Swee Say and all our speakers for taking time off to share their insights with us today. In addition, I would also like to thank all the teachers and the 1200 students who are with us today.
Over the past few years, China has grown remarkably, becoming an important player on the world stage. Any changes in China will set off ripples to the rest of the world, from politics, economic, social culture, popular culture, and beyond. We should be better attuned to contemporary China, to keep pace with its developments.
As mentioned by Minister Lim earlier, the population in China is now 270 times that of Singapore. Last year, China’s economy has surpassed Japan and became the world’s second largest economy, tailing behind the US. Many foreign companies want to have a bigger pie in this world’s emerging market, just look at Apple, Korean pop bands. Hence, one should not miss the opportunities that a rising China brings. As the future leaders of our nation, you should keep abreast of the ever-changing China, and capitalize on our strategic location as well as our multilingual and multicultural populace. Up your China-Quotient, Expand your Horizon! (双语双文化 世界无限大)
I am very glad to see that the Forum was so well received, and to see a handful of non-Chinese students here to learn from our “China experts” Minister Lim Swee Say and the plenary speakers. You are certainly very fortunate because these insights are valuable knowledge that you will not get from the text books. I hope all of you will continue to be conscientious in acquiring such knowledge, and put them to good use one day.
Since our inception in 2007, Business China has been striving to nurture an inclusive bilingual and bicultural group of Singaporeans, through extensive use of the Chinese language as the medium of communication, so as to sustain our multi-cultural heritage, and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.
We are celebrating our fifth anniversary this year and we will be presenting to our members and the public more than 40 events and programmes. Today’s “China-Quotient Student Forum” is one of them, and it is our biggest scale youth forum to-date, since we launched the Forum in 2010. The Forum aims to motivate youths who are interested in contemporary China, to keep pace with its rapid developments and to stay up-to-date. Over the years, we have invited outstanding personalities from different industries, to share their perspectives on various themes. Through such sharing sessions, we hope to expand our youths’ horizon and gain deeper understanding on China-related issues.
We are also working closely with various secondary and tertiary institutions, to customise different programmes in the interests of the youths. Some of these are listed on the flyer that you have received. Through these diversified activities, we hope that you will get to learn more about China and Chinese culture, to experience the evolving Chinese society, and to upkeep your Chinese language skills. Visit our Facebook, we regularly provide latest updates on China-related news, from both Chinese and English sources. So, “Like” us and be our friends!
Last but not least, I would like to warmly welcome all of you to join the big family of Business China. There are many platforms for you to interact with like-minded student members and business leaders from China and Singapore, all these will enable you to be better prepared when you decide to take on learning or working opportunities in China. So don’t hesitate, join us now!
Thank you!