China, Oregon exchange
education, economic ideas
^5oth abundant with pine trees
and blessed with windows to the
ocean, Oregon and the sub-tropical
Chinese province of Fujian are more
than just geographical near-mirror im
ages of each other.
Fujian and Oregon are sister cities, a
relationship resolved by last year's
Oregon legislature, and reaffirmed and
developed by an Oregon delegation's
pilgrimage to Fujian earlier this Spring.
Fujian officials and the Oregon group
spent two weeks together, seeking out
opportunities for cooperative economic
ventures and discussing educational
and cultural exchanges — but mostly
just checking each other out.
"It was more of a friendship mission
expressing good faith,” says Jacquie
Bonner, a delegation member and
director of the University's Educational
Opportunities Program.
^Sonner and delegation
members Lane County Commissioner
Jerry Rust and Sen. William Fry, D
Eugene, shared that mission with the
University in a slide show a few weeks
ago.
Bonner and Rust say Oregon is for
tunate to have Fujian as its sister
because the province of 25 million peo
ple has been directed by China's
government to accelerate economically.
And education in Fujian is projected
to accelerate at a similar pace.
For instance, both Fuzhou and
Xiamen Universities have been directed
to double their enrollments by 1990,
demanding both an expansion of their
curriculum and of their professors'
knowledge, Bonner says.
And Fujian is looking to Oregon col
leges and universities to help them
expand.
While economic improvement is Fu
jian's primary goal, both Rust and Bon
ner say educational exchanges will pro
bably be the first interchange to
materialize between Fujian and Oregon
— Fujian views their economic develop
ment as being dependent on education.
"Fuzhou (University and Teacher's
College) is ready right now to receive
our students/' Bonner says.
Bonner says Fujian's Hwachiau
University is also offering free tuition,
room, board and air fare to native
Chinese who have left their homeland
to study.
"They're ready to receive any
overseas Chinese students for a free
ride," she says.
Kids are kids no matter where they're born. This group in Fujian resembles the
children at the University day care centers.
Friendship isn't hampered by the language barrier as demonstrated by this
American journalist and his small curious companion.
Bonner was impressed by Fujian's
professors and buildings.
"We went to see a high school — it
looked like one of our small university
campuses," she says.
^Zhina's overall commitment to
liberalizing its foreign relations is such
that Bejing has authorized Tiang You,
director of Fujian's office of foreign af
fairs, to autonomously enter into con
tractual trade agreements. You, who
helped establish the Chinese embassy
in Washington, D.C., wants to send of
ficials from his office to colleges and
universities in Oregon, Bonner says.
"They want to take some courses to
better understand the Oregon
legislature and in business administra
tion, with the idea that sometime soon
they plan to open (in Oregon) a
business-trade office," Bonner says.
Bonner says Fujian's educational
needs include programs in forestry,
agriculture, civil and mechanical
engineering.
Culture, law, economics, politics and
language are also areas for educational
exchange, especially since Fujian's
economic future will prospectively be
connected to Oregon's. English is
already China's second language.
"I'm just astounded at the number of
people learning English," Bonner says.
F”ujian has already established
educational exchanges in Oregon and
elsewhere.
Its Xiamen University has exchanges
with Canada, Japan and Australia. Lewis
& Clark has an exchange program set
up with Gweilin Teacher's College, and
PSU has laid their own groundwork.
"PSU is ready to develop a strong
program because of their interest in in
ternational trade,” Bonner says.
In preparation for the University pro
gram, Bonner is helping draw up a pro
posal for Chancellor Bud Davis.
Story by Brooks Dareff
Photos courtesy of Jerry Rust
1 FREE Soda j
plus j
10^ OFF I
any slice i
Offer good Monday
through Friday
11:30-Midnight Mon. Fri.
3:30-Midnight — Weekends |
1211 Alder on Campus j
686-9598
Sy's J
New JTork Pjzzaj
Orppnn D.iilv FiupmIH
Peak Season
Flights
to Britain
from
$499
round trip
EUGENE TRAVEL
687-2823
iiii[. i tih
This certificate is worth $1.00 off on the next roll of
110, 126, 135 or disc film you bring to us. Our
KIS 1-HOUR PHOTO PROCESSOR
will give you picture-perfect prints in just 60 minutes! ___
Offer expires 6/3/84 Only one coupon per purchase, i If IqI
Agate Video 1495 E. 19th 344-2691 isss!
7