Consul General James Heller: The Importance of “People-to-People”何乐进总领事：“人与人交流”的重要性
Read Time:4 Minute, 54 Second
Zijing Liu 刘子菁
Edited by WeiDi Xu 徐苇笛 and Beata Desselle
On March 30, Consul General James Heller, the Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai and 1991-1992 Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) alumnus, visited Nanjing University and met with Wang Zhenlin, the Vice President of Nanjing University at Gulou Campus. They conducted in-depth discussions on strengthening Nanjing University’s cooperation with the United States and enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. Vice President Wang Zhenlin reviewed a series of cooperation achievements between the United States and Nanjing University, represented by the HNC, emphasizing that Nanjing University will uphold the international tradition to further strengthen exchanges with American universities and promote win-win cooperation in Sino-US relations. Consul General James Heller recognized the positive contributions of HNC in the sphere of people-to-people exchanges and public diplomacy and said that the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai will continue to provide support and guarantee for exchanges between the two countries. In addition, Consul General James Heller visited the Pearl Buck Memorial Hall on the Gulou campus.
3月30日，美国驻上海总领事馆总领事、南京大学–约翰斯·霍普金斯大学中美文化研究中心（以下简称“中美中心”）1991-1992届校友何乐进 (James Heller) 一行访问南京大学。南京大学副校长王振林在鼓楼校区会见来宾。双方就加强南京大学对美合作、增进中美两国人文交流展开深入探讨。王振林副校长回顾了以中美中心为代表的一系列对美合作成果，强调南京大学将秉持国际化的办学传统，进一步加强与美国高校交流互鉴，促进中美关系实现合作共赢。何乐进总领事高度认可中美中心在两国人文交流、公共外交等领域做出的积极贡献，表示美国驻上海总领事馆将继续为两国的双向交流提供支持与保障。何乐进总领事还在南京大学鼓楼校园参观了赛珍珠纪念馆。
南京大学鼓楼校区赛珍珠纪念馆
Afterward, Consul General James Heller returned to HNC to speak with the teachers and students. Dr. Huang Haifeng, his former roommate, also returned to HNC. Director Cong Cong welcomed the alumni to return to the HNC community and praised Consul General James Heller and Dr. Huang Haifeng’s 30-year-friendship as a typical representation of the relationships cultivated by the “cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural, cross-language and cross-border” and “co-learning, co-living, co-growing, and co-development” models of HNC.
随后，何乐进总领事回到中美中心与中美中心师生进行交流。当年他在中美中心的室友黄海峰教授，也回到中美中心。从丛主任欢迎何乐进总领事和黄海峰教授回到中美中心“大家庭”，并称赞他们这两位有着三十多年友谊的室友，是中美中心“跨学科、跨文化、跨语言、跨国界”和“共学、共住、共成长、共发展”模式培养的人才典型代表。
“HNC is a very important educational cooperation program for both the United States and China.” Consul General James Heller recalled his experience of living and studying at HNC, believing that HNC is a pioneer in people-to-people communication and educational exchanges. He praised HNC as a model of exchange that enhances mutual trust, builds consensus, promotes cooperation, and deepens friendships. HNC plays a very important role in China’s exchanges with the United States and the rest of the world. “In my experience, an American who has a Chinese roommate and goes on to learn Chinese history, politics, and culture is a crucial model of people-to-people communication. I believe this is important, and we must continue to promote it.” Consul General James Heller believed that the model of foreign and Chinese students becoming roommates deepens mutual understandings and tolerances, promotes mutual growth and development, and creates a people-to-people exchange in practice. He stressed that the United States and China should maintain such exchanges to advocate diversity, openness, and inclusivity in the world.
“不管对美国来说还是对中国来说，中美中心都是一个非常重要的教育合作项目。”何乐进总领事回顾了他在中美中心生活与学习的经历，认为中美中心是人文沟通和教育交流的先行者，并称赞中美中心可以增进互信、凝聚共识、促进合作、深化友谊，是人文交流“人与人交流”的典范，中美中心在中国与美国、中国与世界的交流中有着非常重要的地位。“按照我的经验，一个美国人有一个中国室友，进而学习中国历史、政治和文化，这是非常重要的人与人交流。我认为人与人的交流具有重要性，我们要继续促进交流。”何乐进总领事认为，中外学生共处一室，一起生活和学习，相互理解和包容，共同成长和发展，创造了真正的“人与人交流”。他强调中美要保持交流接触和沟通理解，促进世界的多样性、开放性和包容性。
Consul General James Heller shared the people-to-people exchange between him and his roommate, Dr. Huang Haifeng. “One of the fondest memories at HNC is my roommate. Haifeng not only helped me improve my Chinese language but also increased my understanding of Chinese culture and customs. During one Chinese New Year, he invited me to his hometown, Chengdu, to celebrate with his family. I really felt the Chinese Spring Festival atmosphere! Then he showed me around and taught me more about the beautiful city. We are not only roommates but also good friends. What I especially cherish and appreciate is that even after 30 years, we still maintain our friendship with each other. My son met Haifeng for the first time a few years ago at HNC’s 30th anniversary celebration and was very impressed with him. My son told me, ‘You’re so lucky that you had a great roommate!’I completely agree!”
何乐进总领事分享过他与室友黄海峰教授之间的“人与人交流”，“在中美中心最美好的回忆之一就是我的室友黄海峰。海峰不仅帮助我提高了中文水平，也增加了我对中国文化和风土人情的了解。有一年的春节，他还邀请我去他的老家成都跟他的家人一起过年，切切实实地感受了一把中国气氛！他还带着我到处游玩，让我更多地了解那座美丽的城市。可以说，海峰不仅是我的室友，还是我的朋友。让我尤为感到珍惜和难能可贵的是，即使是过了30年，我们还是保持着彼此之间的友谊。我的儿子几年前在中心成立30周年庆典上第一次与海峰见面，对他的印象也非常深刻。他告诉我说：‘你真幸运，你有一个很棒的室友！’我完全同意！”
何乐进总领事与黄海峰教授在原宿舍“复拍”31年前的合影
Afterward, students enthusiastically asked questions. Professor Hua Tao and Professor Paul Armstrong-Taylor also talked with Consul General James Heller. Consul General James Heller praised China’s development over the past 40 years of reform and opening up. He looked forward to the further development of Sino-US cooperation in trade, green energy research, and other areas. He encouraged the students of HNC to remain optimistic and confident and to engage in and promote people-to-people exchanges. He also shared with students the uniqueness of diplomats’ career choices and family life. Finally, Consul General James Heller presented the American National Park album to HNC. Director Cong Cong displayed the album and commented, “We will get to see the beauty of America’s national parks.” As a return gift, Director Cong Cong and Deputy Director John Urban represented HNC to present him with a cultural shirt and a mysterious gift, which was the graduation photo of Consul General James Heller and Dr. Huang Haifeng that year. They found themselves in the graduation photos and showed off the photo with a big smiles, and everyone couldn’t help but applaud and laugh for them.
随后，中外同学踊跃提问。华涛教授和包尔泰（Paul Armstrong-Taylor）教授也与总领事进行了交流。何乐进总领事称赞中国改革开放40多年的发展，展望中美贸易、绿色能源研究等方面合作的进一步发展，并鼓励中美中心学生保持乐观和信心、参与和促进“人与人交流”。他还就外交官职业生涯选择和外交官家庭生活的独特性，与中外同学进行了分享。最后，何乐进总领事向中美中心赠送了美国国家公园图册，从丛主任接过图册说，“我们有机会要去看看美丽的美国国家公园”。从丛主任和柯俊瀚（John Urban）副主任代表中美中心向总领事赠送了中美中心文化衫以及一份神秘礼物，这份神秘礼物就是何乐进总领事和黄海峰教授当年的毕业照。何乐进总领事和黄海峰教授从毕业照中辨认出自己，并笑着向大家展示毕业照，大家不由地为他们鼓掌和欢笑.
何乐进总领事和黄海峰教授当年的毕业照
