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 任筑山博士，現任美國農業部副部長，是美國政府裡第二個最高的中國華裔官員，他應陶光業博士的邀請將於八月九日、十日蒞臨聖路易市訪問，並與密蘇里植物園園長Peter
Raven及當地社區領袖會面，討論將在華盛頓國家植物園建造的一座中國花園。
這座花園是美國與中國政府的合同合作項目。由任博士本人及前任美國農業部部長Ann Veneman代表美國政府與中國政府簽署的合約。這座花園將於2006年破土動工，預計2007年完工。完工後，這座花園將是華盛頓吸引遊客的重要景點。
任博士出生於中國，幼時隨父母遷移到台灣，在台灣大學畢業後來美國繼續攻讀，獲碩士及博士學位。畢業後在各大學執教多年，由一九九一年至二000年在加州Sanluis
Obispo大學任農學院院長，在二00一年，由布希總統提名，經國會同意派任為農業部副部長，主管研究教育和經濟事務，美國農業部是政府第二大的部門，僅次於美國國防部。在他的管理下，有一萬個工作人員，每年經費超過幾億美元，他的成就卓越，曾得到全國及世界很多重要的獎狀。他最近又被選為二00五年全國最有成就的科技人員。
這座中國花園，是中國的禮物，送給美國人民。美國的負責提供土地、道路、內部裝璜及水電工程。修建這座中國花園，有幾個目的，其一，是增加美國人民對中國文化的了解，及改善兩國的友好關係，並增加研究的機會。其他設計的原則，以體現祥和、幽靜、同時體現大自然與建築的協調。這個花園共佔地十二畝，建於二百畝的國家公園內，她由兩個著名花園組成，並加上一個湖上花園，共有二十一個建築，有很多獨立的亭及有一個西藏寶塔，船舫，展覽館，茶苑，會議廳等共佔面積四十四萬平方呎，這個花園完成後，將是在中國境外的最大中國花園。
在聖路易的社區及企業集團將於八月十日(星期三)中午，假金滿樓餐廳(8224 Olive Blvd.)舉行歡迎招待會，餐後，任副部長將解釋這個花園的設計進行情況，並有幻燈圖片放映，歡迎有興趣者前來聚會，餐費：每人15元，有興趣參加者請提前預訂，電話予聖路易時報(314-432-3858)或聖路易新聞(314-991-3747)，截止日期八月八日。餐位有限，請儘速報名。
Dr.
Joseph Jen, Undersecretary for Research Education and Economics
of the US Department of Agriculture is the second highest-ranking
official in the Federal government held by a Chinese-American. He
will be in St. Louis on August 9 & 10th at the invitation of
Dr.William Tao. He will meet with Dr. Peter Raven, Director at the
Missouri Botanical Garden and other St. Louis business leaders to
present the plans for building of a Classical Chinese Garden in
the National Arboretum in Washington DC as a joint project between
the US and Chinese governments. He and then Secretary of Agriculture,
Ann Veneman, representing United States and the counter part the
Chinese government signed the Agreement. The Garden project is current
in the design stage and is scheduled for ground breaking in year
2006. It will undoubtedly be a major visitor𠏋 attraction in the
United State Capital when completed in year 2007.
Dr. Joseph Jen was born in China, moved to Taiwan as a child with
his family and completed his undergraduate degree from Taiwan University
in 1960. He came to the United States for graduate studies earned
his master𠏋 degree in Food Sciences from Washington State University
in 1964, his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of California
- Berkley in 1969 and an MBA form Southern Illinois Edwardsville
in 1985. He is a world-class scientist and was Dean of Agriculture
at the State University at San Luis Obispo in California before
he was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed the Congress
as the Undersecretary of Agriculture since 2001. The Department
of Agriculture is the second largest department in the Federal government
next only to the Department of Defense. He is responsible for supervising
over 10,000 people for research, education and economics with an
annual research budget of several hundreds million dollars. The
National Arboretum is among one of the many operating units under
his management. He has received numerous prestigious national and
international Awards in science and management and most recently
was selected to receive the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award
by the Association of Science and Engineering Societies National
Council.
The Chinese Garden is a gift by the Chinese government to the
people of the United States whereas the US National Arboretum
is to provide the site, infrastructure, interior finishes and
operational facilities The purpose of creating this Chinese Garden
at the National Arboretum is to foster a better understanding
of Chinese culture by Americans, to promote friendly relationship
between the two countries and to provide opportunities for research
of oriental plants.
The design of the Gardens will be guided by the traditional Chinese
principles of creating an atmosphere of tranquility and peace
and to achieve harmony between nature and structure.
The Garden will occupy 12 - acres in the heart of the 200 plus
acres National Arboretum. It will consist of the re-creation of
two famous private gardens in China plus one floating garden surrounding
a new lake. There will be a total of 2l structures consisting
of many outdoor pavilions, a pagoda, a boathouse, and many indoor
structures such as tea house, typical Chinese scholar𠏋 studies,
exhibition hall, lecture hall, seminar and meeting
rooms. All enclosed buildings will be furnished in Chinese decor
and authentic Chinese furniture. The building floor area of these
indoor and outdoor structures is approaching 40,000 square foot.
These structures will be completely constructed in China and be
disassembled, shipped to the US Site and re-assembled by Chinese
craftsmen on foundations provided the National Arboretum. When
completed, this Chinese Garden will be the largest Chinese Garden
outside of China.
The St. Louis Chinese Community and organizations will host a
welcome luncheon for Dr. Jen at noon on August 10 (Wednesday)
at the Lulu𠏋 Restaurant at 8224 Olive Blvd at which time Dr. Jen
will make a presentation on the preliminary design of the project
including the artist rendering of the site and photos of the famous
gardens to be constructed. Anyone interested in attending the
luncheon is welcome. Cost of the lunch is
$15 per person. Those interested in attended must make reservation
by calling the St. Louis Chinese American News at (314-432-3858)
or St. Louis Chinese Journal (314-991-3747) prior to end of the
day on Monday August 8. Space is limited. Early reservation is
advised.
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