Dame Nancy Rothwell made the opening speech. She mentioned nearly half of the international alumni were from China and the number was increasing year on year. Most Chinese alumni came back to China, active in politics, business, academia etc.. She also mentioned that Manchester is one of the important cities in Northern England and the University of Manchester was top academic and research centers in this area. For example the National Graphene Institute (located in the UoM) already had closer collaborations with Chinese counterparts. Alumni were one of the key drivers for the development of the UoM. She encouraged our alumni to make higher achievements and became the ambassadors and bridge between the UoM and those in China.

Dr. Qian Ouyang, President of the UoM China Alumni Association, represented the China alumni to make a speech on the development of alumni and association in China. Sherry Fu, Director of the UoM China Centre also delivered a speech. As the founder of the China Centre, she looked back the development and major achievements made since its establishment in 2008. She also mentioned the SORSA UoM Alumni Association. Last year, Dame Nancy Rothwell visited Shanghai and announced the rename and launch of the UoM China Centre, showing the importance the UoM attached to China. The Centre would be endeavored to further collaborations in research and businesses, and would continuously support the alumni activities as usual.

Other distinguished guests from Manchester included Professor Martin Schroder (Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Professor of Chemistry), Professor Ian Greer (Vice-President and Dean of The University of Manchester's Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health), Sir Kostya Novoselov, Helen Archibald (Senior Officer of Alumni Office).