On October 1, the whole China celebrates its main state holiday, the Day of the Establishment of the People's Republic of China. On this day, in 1949, a crowded rally meeting in Tiananmen Square in Beijing prompted a new state. Celebrations take place all over the country and in its foreign representations all over the world. From this day in China, one of the two “Golden weeks” begins (the second falls on the Holiday of the Spring), when the holidays (1-3 October) are combined with the weekends and together form a non-working week.
Of course, this holiday will be celebrated in Kyiv, including our university, because Chinese citizens study at several our faculties. If you look into history, one can recall that over the decade Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has trained thousands of engineers for this country. Currently, the connections between Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and universities, research centers and high-tech companies in China are actively developing and deepening.
One of the most striking evidence of such a relationship between the university and Chinese partners is the monument to the prominent Chinese thinker, pedagogue and politician Confucius, built on Square of Knowledge as a gift from the University of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.
The ceremony of the opening of the monument took place on the first-year’s student's day. And the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to Ukraine, Dua Wei, addressed newly-made polytechnics with a speech, the full text of which we are printing today.
“Dear Rector of the National Technical University of Ukraine Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Mr. Zgurovskyi!
Dear guests,
Dear students!
Good day!
I am extremely happy to take part in this event on the occasion of the first-year student day at the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”. The seventh-day celebration of the dedication to the students just falls on the 120th anniversary from the day the university was founded, which is why this year's event is even more significant. I sincerely congratulate all the students present here for the fact that from today you will become honored listeners of this famous world-famous institution of higher education.
Just at Square of Knowledge we had an opening ceremony of the monument to a prominent ancient Chinese thinker and teacher Confucius. On the pedestal, the well-known saying of Confucius is engraved, which encourages students to learn: “The one who learns, but does not think, will lose himself, the one who thinks, but does not learn, will ruin himself.” I want to give this statement to all present; I hope that in the future, on the path to mastering knowledge, you will be guided by principles such as diligence in learning, the ability to comprehend, the complementarity of thinking and learning, the unity of knowledge and action. When you begin your studies at this magnificent university campus, I ask you not to forget that a well-known Eastern sage is very close to you, passing through a story that spans 2,500 years, carefully watching you.
I would like to add that, at the same time as the birth of the university “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, another well-known thinker and teacher of the new era, Liang Zichao wrote the essay “The Thoughts of a Chinese Young Man”, which really gives rise to strong feelings. In the work, the author put forward the idea that “the country will be wise, if its young generation is wise, the country will be strong if its young generation is strong”. I want to give you these words, hoping that you will be able to absorb this knowledge, expand your capabilities, make significant progress in learning, serve your country.
Finally, I would like to turn to the Chinese students here: I hope that you will appreciate this time, you will study hard, pray for your motherland, so that your family will be proud of you!
Once again I congratulate all freshmen! I congratulate the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” on the 120th anniversary!
Thanks!”