On March 22, 2016, a launch event for the second Chinese edition of ‘Y. K. Pao: My Father’ was held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Pao Siu Loong Library. ‘Y. K. Pao: My Father’ was authored by Prof Anna Pao Sohmen, Member of the National Committee of CPPCC, Standing Committee Member of Zhejiang CPPCC, World-Wide Shipping Company Director, YK Pao School Founder, and eldest daughter of shipping magnate Sir Yue-Kong Pao. Over 300 VIP guests attended the launch, including municipal government officials from Shanghai, Zhejiang and Ningbo as well as representatives from Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, Ningbo University, Zhejiang University Xinhua News Agency, Special Olympics: East Asia, Ningbobang Museum, Zhejiang businesses and YK Pao School.
Philip Sohmen, grandson of Sir YK Pao, opened the event with a warm welcome to all attendees. Vice Chairman of CPPCC Shanghai Committee Zhang Endi, President of Jiao Tong University Prof Zhang Jie, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Ningbo University Guo Huawei, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press Han Jianmin expressed their congratulations on the release of ‘Y. K. Pao: My Father,’ each recounting Sir YK Pao’s many historic achievements and profound love for his country. Prof Pao Sohmen followed the opening speeches with an introduction to Sir YK Pao’s values and principles.
Zhang Endi noted that Sir YK Pao was a self-made hero, and only through his own hard work, dedication and perseverance did he eventually become a world renowned shipping tycoon, and yet despite this, he never forgot his motherland, continuing to give generously to support the development of his country over the entire course of his lifetime. Zhang expressed hope that this new edition would enable more to understand and reflect on the life of Sir YK Pao and follow his great example.
In her speech, Prof Anna Pao Sohmen discussed Sir YK Pao’s motto: ‘exercise persistently, use sparingly, work diligently,’ crediting her father for instilling in her a great sense of social responsibility and patriotism. She further explained that three generations of the Pao family were able to maintain harmony and success thanks to Sir YK Pao's values – using sparingly, rejecting materialism, being modest, and giving back to one’s community and country.
The 10 chapters of ‘Y. K. Pao: My Father’ provide a detailed account of the Sir YK Pao’s life and patriotism, as well as his career and struggles. Prof Pao Sohmen recalls a father who was strict but loving, an understated man who was not only diligent but highly efficient. Behind the extraordinary achievements was an unrelenting drive to be better, a lifelong dedication to learning, selfless generosity and eagerness to serve his own country.
Sir YK Pao not only dominated the business world as an entrepreneur – he was known for advocating peaceful resolutions, thanks to his sincerity and earnestness. He helped mediate the tumultuous international situation in the previous century, facilitated the return of Hong Kong to China, and played an important role in his country’s reform. Sir YK Pao’s love for education was evident in his establishment of the Pao Yue-Kong and Pao Siu Loong Scholarship for overseas study as well as the Sino-British Friendship Scholarship, which supported Chinese students in completing their studies in the UK. Sir YK Pao also funded the construction of the Pao Siu Loong Library at Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University and with the help of his generous donations, Ningbo University came to fruition in 1986.
Inspired by their father, Sir YK Pao’s children share the same enthusiasm and commitment to education as well as his strong values and great sense of social responsibility. In 2007, Prof Pao Sohmen, along with her son, Mr Philip Sohmen, founded YK Pao School in Shanghai.
Pao School is a world-class school for tomorrow’s China. The school is a non-profit, bilingual institution committed to delivering the best in Chinese and international education, with its mission to develop its students’ full potential, give them a foundation in Chinese language and culture and help them become global citizens for the 21st century. The school delivers a unique Year 1-12 programme that encourages harmony and balance, interaction and communication, mutual understanding and tolerance as well as cooperation and mutual benefit, supporting active exchanges and collaboration between educators from around the world in order to integrate Chinese and international education and promote Chinese culture on an international level.
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