As the falling leaves of the phoenix tree evoke old friendships, the passing down of knowledge opens a new chapter. On the morning of December 6, 2025, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) began its 2025 Alumni Reunion program in the HNC Kuang Yaming Auditorium. More than 150 domestic and international alumni from the HNC, Nanjing University (NJU), and Johns Hopkins University (JHU), as well as guests from the EU Chamber of Commerce, the Jiangsu Overseas Chinese Federation, the Youth Committee of the Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Tsinghua University, and Zhejiang University gathered at the HNC to share friendly sentiments.
Alumni Reunion Group Photo
Opening Ceremony: Paying Tribute to the Past, Approaching the Future Together
HNC Chinese Co-Director Li Xiaorong and American Co-Director Adam K. Webb delivered remarks. Director Li expressed a warm welcome and gratitude to the alumni and friends who traveled a long distance to attend, and emphasized that the center’s exemplary traditions have never faded: the blended environment of dorms shared by Chinese and international students, the unique model of target language instruction, the practical platform of the Career Treks, and the core value of “academic freedom and open sharing” have been and will always be the core spirit upheld by the center. While facing current complex international situations and challenges in U.S.-China Relations, she noted, the HNC remains a rare safe place that upholds U.S.-China dialogue and cooperation. This steadfast confidence largely comes from the strong support of HNC alumni, as they have offered valuable suggestions and generous support for the center’s development, further solidifying the original commitment to “exchange and cooperation.” The HNC will continue to treat “exchange” as a bridge and “cooperation” as a bond, innovating while preserving traditions and moving forward while maintaining its principles.
Director Webb, reflecting on his own 17 years of personal experience at the HNC, recounted valuable experiences such as practical explorations during rural area field trips and academic seminars, systematically demonstrating the center’s groundbreaking progress in areas such as cross-campus collaborative innovation, iterative upgrades of the curriculum, and in-depth expansion of regional studies. He strongly emphasized that the center will continue to cultivate its unique cross-cultural and bilingual environment, build bridges between Chinese and foreign cultures with an open and tolerant attitude, and dedicate its full effort to becoming a core hub and model platform for U.S.-China and global academic exchange and links between peoples.
The HNC Co-Directors Deliver Remarks
NJU Vice President Lu Yanqing delivered remarks via video, tracing the founding history of the HNC from the 1979 Chinese higher education delegation visit to America led by NJU Vice President Kuang Yaming, to the 1981 reciprocal delegation visit to China led JHU President Steven Muller. Both visits encouraged NJU and JHU to formally sign the agreement to found the HNC. The two university’s presidents, with both foresight and insight, joined hands to begin the two schools’ cooperation in U.S.-China higher education. Serving as a model for international cooperation in Chinese higher education following the Reform and Opening Up, the HNC has been diligently cultivated over several decades, and has already become an important site for academic and cultural exchange linking the U.S. and China and radiating globally. Vice President Lu expressed that the HNC’s numerous alumni are the inheritors of both NJU’s “honest, grand, diligent, and sincere” spirit and JHU’s motto of “truth will set you free.” Moreover, they are envoys of people-to-people diplomacy who transcend national borders and unite hearts and minds, demonstrating the mission of “bridge builders” through their actions. He emphasized that under current complex and ever-changing international circumstances, the HNC must continue to uphold and undertake its original mission. It should continue to demonstrate the advantage of its unique platform for bilateral cooperation, cultivate the soil for U.S.-China cultural exchange, inject a lasting force for the promotion of healthy and stable U.S.-China relations, and at the same time sincerely welcome all alumni to frequently return to this “spiritual home” which embodies youth and idealism to share feelings of friendship and develop together.
NJU Vice President Lu Yanqing delivered remarks
Thought Leaders and Insights from the Forefront of Industry
Serving as the core activity for the reunion, the keynote forum was hosted by Senior Director of the Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation and member of the HNC Certificate Class of 2017-2018 Mao Tingting. Several industry leaders with deep expertise in their respective fields and HNC alumni took to the stage, sharing provocative thoughts from diverse perspectives and providing an intellectual feast combining academic depth and practical value.
Keynote Forum Host Mao Tingting
Vice Dean of the NJU School of International Relations Zhu Feng spoke on the topic “U.S.-China Relations in the Trump 2.0 Era: Risks, Challenges, and Outlooks,” focusing on the current key issues in U.S.-China relations, engaging in analysis from the macro-level of the evolving international order. He expressed that even though U.S.-China relations face complex challenges, there still exists a broad space for coordination on the basis of mutual interest, and also people-to-people exchanges and elite consensus will be the cornerstone of promoting positive interactions between the two countries. This view is highly in accordance with the mission of exchange that the HNC has cultivated for nearly 40 years.
NJU School of International Relations Vice Dean Zhu Feng
On the topic of professional development under the trend of artificial intelligence, Ant Group Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chen Liang shared insights through his talk “Career Prospects in the AI Age.” He emphasized that the cultural qualities of “broad knowledge, understanding people’s emotions, and empathy” are core skills that one cannot lack as technology iterates. Drawing on his practical experience, he encouraged students at the center to maintain a rational view of personal growth, embrace intelligent tools with an open mind while simultaneously relying on the international platform created by the HNC to broaden their global perspectives, and lay a foundation for long-term development through diverse studies.
Ant Group Senior Vice President
Putting cross-cultural cooperation into practice, Chairperson and General Manager of Leitz Tooling Systems Ltd. (China) Chen Kaiyuan spoke on “Localization Practices of European Firms,” telling the story of how Leitz grew from a traditional workshop into a global “hidden champion.” She argued that the vigor and potential of the Chinese market requires cultivating a “localization mentality.” Through customized solutions tailored to specific needs, manufacturing services systems rooted in local areas, and principles of open-minded cross-cultural cooperation, Leitz has been able to develop while benefitting all sides.
Leitz Tooling Systems Chairperson and General Manager Chen Kaiyuan
Member of the HNC Certificate Class of 1994-1995 and Chairperson, General Manager, and Chief Investment Officer of Merger China Group Qi Kezhan shared his personal growth trajectory in his talk “Strategic Choices in My Life.” He looked back at his critical journey from beginning studies at the HNC, to visiting the U.S. for advanced studies and work in international finance institutions, to embarking on entrepreneurship, deeply illustrating the guiding value of the international perspective fostered by the HNC for one’s life choices. He emphasized that a correct strategic choice comes from seizing the trends of the time, encouraging the next generation to rely the unique platform of the HNC, grasping opportunities for development between the U.S. and China, and realizing long-term value while upholding one’s core values.
HNC Certificate Class of 1994-1995 Qi Kezhan
Alumni Roundtable Sharing Session: Exchanging Experience and Enabling a Path for Growth
The Alumni Roundtable Sharing Session
In the afternoon of December 6, the HNC held the Alumni Roundtable Sharing Session in the Kuang Yaming Auditorium. Han Liang, HNC Certificate Class of 1994-1995 and Partner and Director of the Management Committee at Fangda Partners; Yao Wen, Certificate Class of 1994-1995 and Managing Director of the Legal and Compliance Department at China Investment Corporation; Yan Yunqing, Certificate Class of 1994-1995 and Senior Director of Human Resources at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Qin Xiao, Certificate Class of 2004-2005 and Chief Commercial Officer at Lazada Group; Shen Jian, Certificate Class of 2011-2012 and Investment Director at Nanjing Innovation Investment Group; and Zhang Wen, MAIS 2015 and Office Director at the Hangzhou branch of Zhejiang Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. each shared realizations about their careers and insights from their industries, engaging in an interactive discussion with other alumni and current students.
They expressed that career development requires a large platform for developing experience as a foundation, in-depth cultivation in specialized areas, and at the same time maintaining an open mind, being willing to explore across fields and embracing uncertainty. Whether it be law, finance, technology, or commerce, matching interests with skills is the core of long-term development, which requires continuously learning and iterating oneself as industries change, taking into account upgrading hard skills and soft skills such as interpersonal communication. Facing career challenges, we should avoid meaningless friction and focus on policy guidance and industry trends to exert precise efforts. We should have both the perseverance to “sit on the sidelines” as well as the courage to actively seek out opportunities, achieving a balance between life and career value through perseverance and breakthroughs.
“Nanjing Scholars” Experience Sharing: Deepening Academics and Expanding the International Perspective
The “Nanjing Scholars” Sharing Session
Following the alumni forum, four “Nanjing Scholars” at the HNC focused on academic exchange and personal growth in an experience sharing session. 2022 Nanjing Scholar Cheng Rui drew on experience at the JHU School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) DC campus, suggesting students reasonably plan their academics, actively put their studies into practice, and make use of their geographical advantage to connect with international resources. 2022 Nanjing Scholar Liu Yuanying spoke from the perspective of applying to doctoral programs, emphasizing the importance of a clear direction of study, making use of advantageous resources, and balancing studies and one’s personal life. 2024 Nanjing Scholar Jiang Yijia shared experience studying at the SAIS DC campus, recommending students gain a deeper understanding of American political culture by leveraging the unique features of relevant congressional courses and the political resources in DC. 2024 Nanjing Scholar Yan Yixin emphasized the value of a desire to explore and of taking initiative, encouraging breaking out of one’s comfort zone and actively expanding resources and connections.
The HNC also organized a reception lunch, happy hour, open discussion, and other activities. Alumni who had not seen each other in a long time raised their glasses and chatted, recounting all the changes throughout the years. Their sincere friendship grew even stronger in the relaxed atmosphere of the reunion events.
