To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region. On the evening of March 28, 2024, Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College (MLC) of University of Macau (UM) held an event titled “Youth and Dreams: Spirit of the ‘Two Sessions’ Sharing.” Following the event, a “Double Celebration” high table dinner was held. Prof. Mok Kai Meng, Vice Rector of UM (Student Affairs), and Dr. Ma Chi Ngai, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and nearly 150 faculty members and students from Tsinghua University, Guangdong Province, as well as colleges and administrative units of UM attended in these two important events.

The event began with enthusiastic applause from all students as the guests made their entrance, followed by singing of the university anthem. Prof. YANG Liu, College Master of MLC, delivered a welcome speech, introduced the theme of the event and the keynote speaker, Dr. Ma Chi Ngai. She praised Dr. Ma for inheriting his grandfather Dr. Ma Man Kei’s patriotic spirit, love for Macau and caring for the people’s livelihood, and his outstanding contributions to the development of Macau and to the nation. She expressed hope that through Dr. Ma’s keynote speech, young students would be inspired to shoulder the responsibilities of the nation and contribute their strength to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Dr. Ma Chi Ngai, member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, Executive Member of the Macau S.A.R Government, Chairman of the Macau Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and third-generation descendant of the Ma‘s family who donated to MLC, delivered a fascinating speech. He conveyed the overview of this year’s national “Two Sessions” to the attending academic staff, students, and guests, and in particular, he provided detailed information about the composition of the Macau delegation, the main agenda of the assembly, the focus of the meetings, the main content and tasks of the CPPCC Standing Committee’s work report and the handling of proposals. Dr. Ma referred to the important remarks made by President Xi Jinping during his visit to the representatives of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the science and technology field, and the environmental and resources sectors. Dr. Ma also shared with the audience the essence of the important speech delivered by Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang of The State Council, during the consultation of the national affairs with members from Hong Kong and Macau Dr. Ma encouraged everyone to unite, love the motherland and Macau, implement the principle of “One Country, Two Systems,” and integrate into the overall development of the nation. Finally, Dr. Ma shared his personal understanding and experiences regarding youth and dreams with the audience. He also reflected on the significant meaning of China’s development over the past 75 years and the return of Macau to the motherland. Dr. Ma advised students to pay attention to national affairs, regional affairs, and family matters. He encouraged them to study hard, adjust their mindset, and make contributions to the country and the prosperity of Macau.

As one of the important initiatives of the college education, the high table dinner included high-level speeches, incorporated elegant culture and high-quality performances. Qin Qianhui, a student, delivered a wonderful Dunhuang dance performance titled “Oriental Charm,” showcased the unique rhythm and style of Dunhuang culture with her graceful movements, vividly interpreted the profound cultural heritage and artistic charm of Chinese culture. Lin Xinzhu and Hugo Leng performed the song ” On wings of Song,” depicting a warm and romantic scene with its refreshing and smooth melody, expressed their love for life and their vision for the future was widely welcomed and loved by the audience.

The dinner concluded with the joyful music of “Farewell the Unforgettable Night.” The guests highly praised the “Two Sessions” spirit sharing event and the high table dinner celebration, and acknowledged the vision of MLC in the implementation of UM “Four-in-One” and whole person education concept. The dinner was filled with youthful energy and a strong sense of patriotism. Through studying and understanding the spirit of the “Two Sessions,” the students will be able to pursue their youthful dreams and contribute to the bright future for Macau and the Chinese Dream.

The guests who attended the “Two Sessions” spirit sharing and dinner include: Prof. Chen Qixin, the Secretary of the College Party Committee of Tsinghua University, Prof. Li Zhengcao, Deputy Dean of Weiyuan College, Prof. Wang Xiumei, Deputy Dean of Weixian College, Prof. Liu Zhen, class adviser of Rixin College, Prof. Wang Zhongjing, instructor of Xingjian College, tutor Yu Xin of Ri Xin College, Wang Kaifeng, Assistant to Tsinghua University’s College Party Committee and Head of the Student Affairs Department of Xingjian College, Ms. Li Yang, Director of the General Office of Tsinghua University’s College Management Centre and Mr. Cheong Hok Sam, Vice Chairman of Tsinghua University Macau Alumni Association; Prof. Zhang Yan, Professor of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; Dr. Katrina Cheong, Director of Communication Office at UM, Prof. Xu Chengzhong, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. Lau Yun Tung, College Master of Chao Kuang Piu College and Prof. Desmond Lam, College Master of Lui Che Woo College.

Senior College Fellows and College Fellows (non-resident) from the college: Prof. Wang Qingjie, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Humanities; Prof. Chen Zhong, Deputy Director of Confucius Institute; Prof. Gong Zhiguo, Head of the Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology; Prof. Johnny Lao from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Prof. Hong Ze from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Anna Cheang from the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and Ms. Yang Xingru from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Trade, Visiting scholar from the Confucius Institute.

To celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region, in the morning of 17^th April, 2024, University of Macau (UM), in collaboration with Macao Polytechnic University, Macao University of Tourism, Academy of Public Security Forces, Macau University of Science and Technology, City University of Macau and Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau held the first Macau’s higher education institutions joint flag-raising ceremony to celebrate these dual milestones.

Prof. YANG Liu, College Master of MLC, along with Associate Master Dr. Gary Fung, Resident Fellow Dr. Venus Viana, and Dr. Stanley Chan, together with MLC students, participated in the flag-raising ceremony. Under the warm morning sun in early April, students stood solemnly facing the Wall of Great Wisdom, sang the national anthem and witnessed the national flag rise and flutter in the wind with immense pride. Prof. Yonghua Song, Rector of the UM, delivered a speech under the national flag, expressed that the joint flag-raising ceremony not only demonstrated the unity and cooperation among the institutions but also showcased the collective efforts and responsibilities of the education sector in Macau. This sincere blessing from the universities in Macau is a special gift to the motherland and SAR government. He also commended the friendly cooperation among the universities and introduced the significant achievements of UM in the integrating into Macau’s development and promoting the construction of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

As an important part of patriotic education, this flag-raising ceremony deepened the patriotic spirit for the motherland and Macau among the teachers and students, inspiring young students to actively participate in the Greater Bay Area construction.

On 17 April 2024 Ma Man Kei and Lo Pak Sam College (MLC) hosted a lecture by Prof. Xiaoping Zhang, Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences from Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST). As an important event of the MLC Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Development Forum, this lecture aims to enhance the overall scientific literacy and knowledge integration ability of MLC students, and promote their active participation in the construction of the Greater Bay Area. The lecture was chaired by MLC Master Prof. YANG Liu, the event was attended by the Associate Master, Resident Fellow and students from MLC and UM.

At the beginning of the lecture, Master YANG introduced the research career of Prof. Zhang and highlighted his significant scientific achievements in recent years. Master Yang praised Prof. Zhang’s outstanding contributions in the field of physics, particularly in lunar and planetary research, as well as his role in the successful launch of ” Macau Science Statellite-1.” Master Yang expressed the hope that this lecture would stimulate the curiosity of MLC students, ignite their passion for exploring the scientific world, inspire their research potential and encourage them to contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area.

The deep space is indeed incredibly vast and distant from us. However, the sky becomes a captivating and poetic domain under the perspective of Prof. Zhang. He outlined China’s recent scientific achievements in deep space exploration. On 21 May 2023, the first space science satellite developed jointly by mainland China and Macau, “Macau Science Statellite-1,” was successfully launched. It officially entered service on 28 November 2023. The successful deployment of ” Macau Science Statellite-1″ is a testament to Macau’s integration into the national innovation development strategy. The State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Science at MUST became the first of its kind in China’s astronomy and planetary science field. He also showed students the exploration projects from the Moon to Mars and discussed the impacts of these endeavors on basic science, applied technology, technological progress, talent development, and long-term strategy. With the unique “one country, two systems” framework, Prof. Zhang highlighted the need for Macau’s youth to stay curious on emerging technologies, the importance of fundamental scientific principles, and actively follow the latest advancements. During the Q&A session, Prof. Zhang Xiaoping engaged in an active conversations with the students, addressing their questions regarding rocket propulsion, the integration of artificial intelligence with rocket development, space program design competitions, and more. These discussions deeply inspired the students and left a lasting impact on them.

After the lecture, Master Yang, invited Prof. Zhang to visit the college’s historical exhibition venues, teaching and activity facilities, courtyard, restaurant, café, and the college’s patriotic education base. Master Yang provided a detailed introduction to the University of Macau’s “Four-in-One” integrated education system and the college’s whole person development education. She also highlighted the four key features of the college’s “Aesthetic Academy.” Through Master Yang’s explanations, Prof. Zhang developed a deep admiration for the patriotic venture of Mr. Ma Man Kei and Ms. Lo Pak Sam, and their family, and expressed agreement with the college’s commitment to nurturing students’ passion for their country and sense of social responsibility. Prof. Zhang praised how the college seamlessly blends the poetic spirit of grand beauty with scientific and technological advancements. He specifically mentioned the renowned line from the “Lanting Xu” artwork donated by Master Yang, which reads, “Looking up, we admire the vastness of the universe,” and expressed profound appreciation for our ancestors’ early explorations of the universe. Finally, Prof. Zhang highly praised the college’s abundant educational resources and environment, and expressed great anticipation for the college’s future development.

This captivating lecture not only provided students with an understanding of China’s significant achievements in deep space exploration in recent years but also ignited their curiosity about the unknown world and their passion for scientific exploration. It enhanced the exchange and understanding between MLC and the students from MUST. The college will continue to encourage students to explore and contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area!