USU Hosts Guest Lecture with Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Medan
Published At
10 March 2025
Published By
Fenny Julistine Tarigan
Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a guest lecture titled "Building a China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future" on Tuesday (25/02/2025) at the Academic Senate Room, 3rd floor, BPA USU Building. Zhang Min, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Medan, was the keynote speaker. The event aimed to strengthen understanding of bilateral relations and collaboration opportunities between Indonesia and China across various fields.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Eng. Himsar Ambarita, S.T., M.T., Director of Internationalization and Global Partnerships at USU, emphasized the importance of this guest lecture in deepening students' understanding of Indonesia-China relations. "This public lecture is highly relevant in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, which have flourished since the 7th century through the Maritime Silk Road. This strategic partnership encompasses economy and trade, education, culture, and technology," he said. He also stressed that cross-cultural and sectoral cooperation is crucial in facing today's global challenges.
In his presentation, Zhang Min elaborated on how diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China, established in 1950, have rapidly developed in various sectors. He highlighted the cooperation between the two nations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthening Asian solidarity, and mutual support, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Today, we commemorate 75 years of Indonesia-China diplomatic relations, and I believe the dreams of both nations are interconnected. Let us join hands to strengthen solidarity and create a better future," he stated.
Zhang Min also discussed the concept of a "Community of Shared Future," a vision to enhance international cooperation based on justice, independence, and shared prosperity.
He affirmed that the bilateral relationship between the two countries has a strong foundation for continuous growth through cooperation in economic sectors, education, infrastructure, and cultural exchange. One example is the annual cultural festival held at USU, which further strengthens academic and social ties between Indonesian and Chinese students.
On this occasion, the Chinese Consul General also invited Mario Pascal, a Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Medan reporter, to share his experiences studying and working in China. This discussion session enriched participants' understanding of China's academic and professional opportunities.
The public lecture was attended by USU Rector, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, M.Si, Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences USU, Prof. Dr. Dra. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., Head of the Mandarin Language Undergraduate Program, Niza Ayuningtias, as well as more than 120 enthusiastic students who participated in the discussion. This event is expected to inspire more USU students to understand the importance of Indonesia-China bilateral relations and motivate them to engage in broader academic and cultural collaborations.