On 11 April, Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the People's Republic of China, visited the Technical College for the Deaf of Tianjin University of Technology. Prior to lecturing to the students of the college, Minister LI visited the PEN-International Multimedia Classroom and offices at TUT. Director Bao introduced the Minister to the work of the college and explained TUT's membership in the PEN-International partnership. Director Bao also explained that the program is housed at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and is funded by grants from The Nippon Foundation of Japan.

Director Bao and President Li of TUT invited Mrs. LI (the wife of the Foreign Minister) to become an honorary director of the College for the Deaf and she accepted the invitation with great pleasure. Plans are presently being made by Mrs. LI and Director Bao to bring diplomats to China and their wives to TUT to visit the PEN-International facilities and the college for the deaf.