政府新闻
上海海归校友向英国慈善家的跨文化遗产致敬 2024-05-30
The Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association holds an event to commemorate the impact of the British architect and philanthropist Henry Lester left in Shanghai.
The Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association held an event on Tuesday to commemorate the impact of the British architect and philanthropist Henry Lester's departure from Shanghai and celebrate cross-cultural friendship.
Lester was one of the first foreigners to settle in Shanghai over a century ago. He established a vast real estate portfolio and used the proceeds to establish educational, healthcare, and charity institutions in the city.
Participants visited Shanghai Renji Hospital's west campus — originally established as the Lester Chinese Hospital — and the old site of the Henry Lester Institute.
Participants visited Lester-established sites of the former Renji Hospital's West Campus - originally established as Briscoe Hospital - and the Lester Technical Institute, once a seamen's hospital.
Zou affirmed that the association remains dedicated to inheriting the "spirit of breaking the ice" by continually deepening cultural exchange between China and the UK. "We cherish these friendly ties. We hope that Chinese and British people will dedicate their wisdom to enhancing mutual trust, empathy, and win-win cooperation between our nations."
Cat Sinclair-Jones, director of the British Council in East China, considered Lester's architectural legacy as a symbol of the friendship between Shanghai and the British people. "Through more engagement and ever-deeper human connections, we can bring greater trust, creativity, and positive change to the world."
Stuart Dunn, executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, hailed the event as "a vital opportunity for recollection, sharing and contemplation of our intertwined histories and destinies". Cultural diversity, he affirmed, possesses unparalleled power to break down barriers.
Participants visited Lester-established sites of the former Renji Hospital's West Campus — originally established as Briscoe Hospital — and the Lester Technical Institute, once a seamen's hospital.
Lester donated almost all of his heritage to charities in Shanghai, said Wang Chao, director of the overseas Chinese affairs office of Hongkou District people's government. "I hope we can inject new power for deepening cultural interflow and friendship between the people of China and the UK," he added.
Jiang Ming, academician of CAS from Fudan University and a recipient of the Henry Lester Trust Scholarship to study at Liverpool University, also spoke about how the support from Lester enabled his academic success and shared the stories of the new-generation Lester boy.
Source: China Daily
