Honorary Lifetime Professorship from Hebei International Studies University
Certificate of honorary lifetime professorship
On July 19, 2023, Hebei International Studies University (HFSU) in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, conferred an honorary lifetime professorship on Daisaku Ikeda in recognition of his longstanding contributions to Sino-Japanese friendship and his efforts in promoting peace, culture and education.
The conferral ceremony was held at Soka University in Hachioji, Tokyo, and attended by an HFSU delegation led by HFSU President Sun Jianzhong. The certificate of honorary lifetime professorship was received by Soka University President Masashi Suzuki on behalf of Mr. Ikeda.
HFSU, founded by President Sun in 1998, is the only independent undergraduate international language university in Hebei Province. It offers courses in 75 languages and has partnerships with some 400 universities and academic institutions in more than 80 countries.
President Sun is a prominent educator who serves as vice chairman of the National Non-profit Private Colleges and Universities Alliance. He developed a deep respect for Mr. Ikeda upon learning of his educational endeavors as the founder of Soka University and his undertakings towards the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan since the 1960s.
In April 2022, HFSU established the Daisaku Ikeda Research Center for the study of Mr. Ikeda’s philosophy.
Soka University Board of Trustees Chair Yasunori Tashiro read out an acceptance speech on behalf of Mr. Ikeda in which he writes about his relationship with the late Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, who skillfully employed the power of words to build bridges of peace and give hope to people.
Referring to the Chinese phoenix in the HFSU emblem, Mr. Ikeda remarked that precisely because humanity is facing a serious crisis of division, we must empower young global citizens to develop “wings” of wisdom, courage and compassion with language education as the foundation, enabling them to soar into the world and contribute to peace and harmonious coexistence.
HFSU President Sun (5th from left) entrusts the certificate of a honorary lifetime professorship to Soka University President Suzuki (5th from right).
[Adapted from articles in the July 20, 2023, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
