ROME: 16th December '04 -- Chinese banquets can be held anywhere in the world, so it is no surprise to know that one was held in Rome at the Salesian University (the UPS, as it is called).  But it was not just an ordinary event.

    Those who set up the banquet and invited its various guests, were the students from Mainland China who attend the UPS on scholarship: in academic areas such as Latin, Philosophy, Social Communications.  These students all owe their place in Rome largely to the work of Fr Robert Giannatelli, former Dean of the Social Communication Faculty, and a regular visitor to China.  There are 10 students in this category.

    The guest list reads as a Who's Who of important Roman personages with Chinese connections: Fr Willi Muller SVD of the Urbaniana, and Fr. King of Propoganda Fidae, the Italy-China Association President, Dr. Vittoria Manchini.  Then there were three China Province Salesians, the President of UPS, Fr Mario Toso, the Dean of the Philosophy Department, and Fr. Giannatelli and others - including Fr. Klement, EAO Regional.  Newly ordained Fr Jesuini Alves, passing through from Jerusalem on the way back to East Timor, tagged along as well.

    The Chinese students concerned are mostly from the University of Ningbo (Law and Communications Faculty), Shanghai's Fudan University and Hanghzou University, which is endeavouring to open a Centre of Italian culture and studies there.