A Tea Party for Spring Festival, held in HUST for returnees from America working in some universities, enterprises and scientific research institutions of Wuhan, was sponsored by the Western Returned Scholars Association of both Wuhan and HUST. Among the distinguished guests attending the party were Guo Youzhong——vice president of the Western Returned Scholars Association of Wuhan and former vice mayor of Wuhan, Wang Cheng—— vice president of HUST and vice president of the Western Returned Scholars Association of Wuhan, Liu Jianfan——deputy party secretary of HUST, Yang Shuzi——honorary president of the Western Returned Scholars Association of Wuhan and academician of CAS (Chinese Academy of Science), Huang Dexiu—— deputy director of National Photonic Lab of Wuhan and vice dean of School of Information Technology & Engineering.

More than 50 people attended the Tea Party, with principals from the United Front Work Department of Wuhan Municipal Party Committee and HUST, and the International Exchange Center of HUST, and returnee representatives from Wuhan University, Huazhong Normal University, Huazhong Agricultural University, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan University of Technology, Zhongnan University Of Economics & Law, Hubei University, Jianghan University, Wuhan Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Steel (Group) Corporation, HUST and other scientific research institutions and enterprises, and their respective principals from the United Front Work Department.

Yang Shuzi gave his New Year greetings to the participants and showed his delight in having the family of Western Returned Scholars Association gather at HUST. He pointed out that the Western Returned Scholars Association is going to play a more and more important role with the rapid development of science, technology and human culture, for it represents an "open spirit." A system, no matter its country, a nation or a society, will be full of vigor only through openess. He expressed the conviction that the members of Western Returned Scholars Association will make great contributions to the construction of a harmonious society through communication with other countries.

Guo Youzhong highly praised this innovative activity and felt that it established a platform for members of Western Returned Scholars Association to communicate with each other, exchange ideas, and enhance collaboration. He indicated the returnees from America who once studied in the forefront of modern science, technology, and culture in America had made positive contributions to the scientific research and teaching of universities and enterprises, and the reform and opening-up of both Hubei province and Wuhan in various ways.

Guo Youzhong presented some basic information about the Western Returned Scholars Association of Wuhan. Set up in 1998, it boasts a membership of 552, with 7 academicians, 196 doctors, and 175 masters covering 13 overseas countries in its council. Academician Li Deren was elected first president. Its Wuhan Branch, formed by returnees of Wuhan voluntarily, is a bridge connecting domestic and overseas students and scholars.

Finally, Guo Youzhong put forward two expectations. One is to welcome returnees from America to join the Western Returned Scholars Association of Wuhan, and the other is to wish all the participants bring forward valuable proposals and suggestions for future activities among the returnees.

Then, representatives from each university and enterprise gave speeches, in which they all expressed great appreciation for the Western Returned Scholars Association of both Wuhan and HUST to have given them such a good opportuity for networking, and their expectations for future activities. They also hoped the members of the association would strengthen communications and offer mutual help in applying their learned knowledge to practice. Moreover, they promised to make contributions to the society with their own knowledge and abilities.

Wang Cheng warmly welcomed the participants to HUST and gave voice to the hope that the members would continue to communicate. He pointed out that there are much space and many opportunities for them in their own working places, in Hubei and Wuhan. As for the proposal of the utilization of the association website, he asked the organizer of the party, the Western Returned Scholars Association of HUST, to add the website to the address list so as to make their future communication more convenient.

The participants held wide-ranging talks over dinner and were joined by Guo Youzhong, Wang Cheng, Liu Jianfan and Yang Shuzi.