June 3rd, 2012 - The Fifth Anniversary Banquet of Confucius Institute at Portland State University & Unveiling Ceremony of 5 New Confucius Classrooms was grandly held at the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom in the evening.

A host of distinguished guests attended and addressed the event, including Consul General Gao Zhansheng from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, Oregon House Co-speaker Arnie Roblan, House Representative Brian Clem, Chief Education Counselor Shao Wei, Chief Culture Counselor Sun Jianhua, and Education Consul Li Renzhu of Chinese Consulate-General in San Francisco, Zhang Xueguang, Vice President of Suzhou University, partner of the CI, Guo Yunde, Director-General of Tianjin Broadcasting and Television Bureau, Lan Jin, Chairman of the Committee of the Oregon Fujian Sister State Association and Director of the CI, Roy Koch, Deputy President of Portland State University, Pat Wetzel, Deputy President for international affairs, Gil Latz, former Deputy President for international affairs of Portland State University and current Deputy President for international affairs of Indiana University-Purdue University. In addition, George Pernsteiner, Chancellor of Oregon University System, was also invited to join the great event.

Present at the ceremony were also Director Xie Jiaxin and Chinese Director Zhang Hui of the Confucius Institute at San Francisco State University, Chinese Director Dai Lan of the Confucius Institute at the University of Oregon, Chinese Director Deng Bo of the Confucius Institute at University of Washington, Chinese Director Tang Changping of the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington, and hundreds of representatives from local schools, business communities and public institutes.

Mdm. Xu Lin, Director General of Hanban, and Wim Wiesel, President of Portland State University who was on a meeting in other state, sent their congratulatory letters.

Mdm. Xu noted in her letter that thanks to the enthusiastic care and support of Wim Wiewel, Director Liu Meiru has led Chinese and local teachers of the CI to work unremittingly and arduously and scored remarkable results. The CI has received awards at two Global Confucius Institute Conferences, making a great difference in boosting understanding and friendship between Chinese and American people and becoming a great role model among CIs worldwide.

Wim Wiewel pointed out that the CI is an excellent part of Portland State University, which is of great significance for the State of Oregon. He expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for its help to make this program happen and indicated that Portland State University will continue to promote quality Chinese language and culture courses at the University.

Consul General Gao Zhansheng awarded congratulatory certificate to Director Liu Meiru at the Banquet.

Chinese calligrapher Ma Weihua conferred the certificate and scholarship to Ryan Reichert, the first recipient of Ma Weihua Chinese Character Scholarship of Confucius Institute at Portland State University and graduate student of Graduate School of International Studies at Portland State University's School of Business Administration. James Trujillo, Senior Manager of Human Resources at Port of Portland also granted the Certificate and Port of Portland Scholarship for International Trade to Ryan Reichert.

Then, Consul General Gao Zhansheng, Oregon House Co-speaker Arnie Roblan, House Representative Brian Clem, Chief Education Counselor Shao Wei, Chief Culture Counselor Sun Jianhua, Zhang Xueguang, Vice President of Suzhou University, Roy Koch, Deputy President of Portland State University, Pat Wetzel, Deputy President for international affairs and other distinguished guests unveiled plaques for five Confucius Classrooms.

Consul General Gao Zhansheng and Co-speaker Arnie Roblan jointly conferred plaques to representatives of the five Confucius Classrooms, namely Confucius Classroom at Albina Early Child Head Start, Duniway Elementary School, Hope Chinese Charter School, Northwest Academy and Sellwood Middle School.

The Unveiling Ceremony hosted in the evening of June 3, 2012 is the second of its kind after Chinese State Councilor Mdm. Liu Yandong inaugurated 12 Confucius Classrooms on April 15, 2011. At this point, the State of Oregon is home to 18 Confucius Classrooms and 16 out of which are affiliated to the Confucius Institute at Portland State University.

National first-level performers and Plum Blossom Prize winners Zhao Xiujun, Kang Jian, Yan Wei, and among other leading artists played "Broken Bridge", selection of traditional Chinese opera "The Tale of White Serpent". Their outstanding performance was warmly welcomed and highly received by guests presented.

Gao Zhansheng, Arnie Roblan and other officials came to the stage, shook hands and took group photo with performers after the show.