A delegation from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), including President Anderson Pedroso, Fr. Roberto Barros Dias, President of the Leonal Franca Priest Foundation, and Yanping Sun, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at PUC-Rio, recently visited Beijing to deepen historical understanding and discuss potential collaborations.
During their visit, the group, accompanied by Simon Koo, Executive Director of TBC, toured the Zhalan Cemetery, where they paid their respects at the tomb of Matteo Ricci, S.J. The delegation also honored the memory of other influential Jesuits, such as Johann Adam Schall von Bell S.J., and Ferdinand Verbiest S.J. They showed particular interest in the Portuguese Jesuits, including Gabriel de Magalhães S.J. and Antonio Gomes S.J., reflecting on their contributions to cultural exchanges between China and the West.
The visit was not only a pilgrimage to the resting places of these historical figures but also an opportunity to explore the extensive history of missionaries in China. The delegation’s engagement with this history highlights the deep roots of intercultural dialogue that both PUC-Rio and TBC value.
Later, discussions turned towards future cooperation. President Pedroso emphasized the significance of the partnership with TBC, viewing the visit as a crucial step towards broadening international collaborations and dialogues. He expressed a strong desire to foster sustainable growth and deepen mutual understanding between the institutions.
This visit marks a milestone in the ongoing relationship between PUC-Rio and TBC, setting the stage for future projects that will benefit both communities and further the cause of global education and intercultural understanding.
For the first time for one of these blogs, I’m taking on a new challenge: exploring without the involvement of The Beijing Center! This past weekend, I took the chance to take a pre-finals breath of fresh air and vacation for the first time in China, to the city of Tianjin.
I’ve written about my cultural exchange experiences in Beijing and at Minzu University before, but recently, I added something new to my roster: introducing my own culture to others.
If there’s any historical landmark related to China someone remembers learning about as a young child, odds are it’s the Great Wall of China. I have distinct memories of sitting in my third-grade social studies class, learning about this ancient marvel of engineering that was large it could be seen from space.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.