IES Global Representative Attends 77th Chinese Embassy National Day Celebration, Highlighting Cross-Border Education and Grassroots Friendship

WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 5, 2026 — Carol Carmody, representing IES Global—the parent organization of the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF)—attended the high-profile 77th National Day reception hosted at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C., on September 30, 2026.

The exclusive event brought together over 800 distinguished guests, including U.S. Senator Steve Daines, representatives from the White House, the U.S. State Department, the Department of Commerce, and members of the international diplomatic corps. The reception focused heavily on local partnerships, youth educational exchanges, and the enduring strength of grassroots relationships between the United States and China. 

The evening featured a keynote address by Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng, who celebrated a landmark year for bilateral relations and emphasized the vital role of academic and cultural exchange. Notably, Ambassador Xie highlighted China’s ambitious new initiative to invite 100,000 young Americans to participate in study programs over the next five years—a mission that directly aligns with the core global education directives of IES Global and SAF.

A centerpiece of the evening was a guest speech by retired American English teacher Ronald Sakolsky, who shared the story of his decades-long friendship with Inner Mongolian environmentalist Yin Yuzhen. Sakolsky’s historic $5,000 donation in 1999 funded over 50,000 saplings that have since transformed into a massive forest in the Mu Us Desert. Sakolsky noted at the podium that "youth friendship will flourish into a bright future," reinforcing the profound, long-term impact of individual international experiences.

"Attending this milestone celebration underscores IES Global’s ongoing commitment to fostering international academic partnerships and cross-cultural understanding. 

 

The emphasis placed by both nations on expanding student exchanges reminds us that educational pathways are essential building blocks for global peace and cooperation." —Carol Carmody, IES Global

The celebration concluded with a featured cultural performance by the China National Opera House, welcoming a renewed era of cultural connectivity, which also included the recent arrival of new giant pandas to the United States.