The Western Returned Scholars Association (WRSA) is a people's organization composed mainly of returned overseas Chinese students from various countries. It is under the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
| 欧美同学会 | |
 Headquarters of the Western Returned Scholars Association | |
| Formation | October 1913 |
|---|---|
| Type | People's organization |
| Headquarters | Ruide Building, No. 5 Yumin East Road, Xicheng, Beijing |
President | Ding Zhongli |
Parent organization | United Front Work Department |
| Website | www |
| Western Returned Scholars Association | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 欧美同学会 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 歐美同學會 | ||||||
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| Alternate name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中国留学人员联谊会 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中國留學人員聯誼會 | ||||||
| |||||||
History
editThe WRSA was founded in October 1913 in Beijing by Wellington Koo, Liang Dunyan, Zhan Tianyou, Cai Yuanpei, Yan Huiqing, Chengting T. Wang, and Zhou Yichun, among others.[1]
The organization ceased activities during the Cultural Revolution, and resumed its activities in 1982.[1]
Functions
editAccording to analyst Alex Joske, the WRSA is "the UFWD's primary body for interacting with ethnic Chinese scholars and scientists". It runs the official association for participants for the Thousand Talents Plan.[2] It is managed by the UFWD and led by the CCP Secretariat.[3]
Organization
editPresidents
edit| Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liang Dunyan | 1913 | 1918 | |
| Lu Zhengxiang | 1918 | 1925 | |
| Chengting T. Wang | 1925 | Late 1920s | |
| Hu Shih | Late 1920s | 1949 | |
| Li Zongen | 1949 | 1950 | |
| Yan Jici | 1950 | 1951 | |
| Cao Richang | 1952 | 1953 | |
| Zhang Yuanshan | 1953 | 1955 | |
| Li Zongen | 1955 | 1956 | |
| Chen Daisun | 1957 | 1958 | |
| Ye Jingxin | 1958 | 1961 | |
| Chu Coching | 1961 | ||
| Mao Yisheng | 1982 | 1991 | President of the 1st Council |
| Lu Jiaxi | 1991 | 1995 | President of the 2nd Council |
| Wu Jieping | 1995 | 1999 | President of the 3rd Council |
| Ding Shisun | 1999 | 2003 | President of the 4th Council |
| Han Qide | 2003 | 2013 | President of the 5th and 6th Council |
| Chen Zhu | 2013 | 2021 | President of the 7th Council |
| Ding Zhongli | 2021 | Incumbent | President of the 8th Council |
References
edit- ^ a b "欧美同学会(中国留学人员联谊会)简介" [Introduction to the European and American Alumni Association (Chinese Overseas Students Association)]. Western Returned Scholars Association. Archived from the original on 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- ^ Joske, Alex (June 2020). "The party speaks for you". Australian Strategic Policy Institute. JSTOR resrep25132. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ "Whispering advice, roaring praises: The role of Chinese think tanks under Xi Jinping". Mercator Institute for China Studies. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-05-12.