Stephen Perry, Chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club and one of the recipients of the China Reform Friendship Medal, joined the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) as an honorary professor in Beijing on Sept. 27.

Jiang Qingzhe, party chief of the UIBE, said that the Perry family had played an important role in promoting the economic and trade relations between China and the UK since the 1950s.

Jack Perry, Stephen's father, who was honored as one of the "icebreakers" to help bridge Sino-British relations, became a visiting professor at the UIBE in 1985 and taught courses on topics including international trade.

Stephen, also the managing director of the London Export Corporation, followed suit, and received the China Reform Friendship Medal in 2018 for his efforts in promoting the China-UK friendship, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The fact that Stephen continues his father's connection with the UIBE and becomes an honorary professor will surely mark a page in the history of the UIBE, Jiang noted.

Stephen Perry pointed out that over the past 50 years of cooperation with China, he has witnessed its rapid development, adding that he is more than willing to pass down the "icebreaking" spirit to the next generation.

After the appointment ceremony, Stephen Perry delivered a lecture themed "50 years of cooperation with China: An inspiration for the present and future."