The Henan Provincial People's Government held a banquet to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on September 28. The banquet also included the annual Yellow River Friendship Awards Ceremony. The Founder and Chairman of the Board of Sias, Dr. Shawn Chen, who was awarded the Yellow River Friendship Award in 2004, attended the banquet and ceremony.

Party Secretary of the United Front Work Department, and member of the CPC(Communist Party of China)Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Government, Sun Shougang, Vice Governor of Henan, and member of the CPC Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial Government, Huang Qiang, presented the Yellow River Friendship Awards. The Yellow River Friendship Award is the highest award given to international experts by the Henan provincial government and is awarded for outstanding contributions to local economic, social, and educational development.

Huang Qiang delivered a speech on behalf of the Henan CPC Standing Committee and the Henan Provincial Government. He welcomed those present, including members of the PLA (People's Liberation Army), other Chinese dignitaries, and all the foreign guests. He expressed his thanks to all those who had contributed to the development of Henan over the years, spoke of the significance of the Yellow River Friendship Award. He said that Henan's achievements and development would not have been possible without the support of friends at home and abroad. He said that Henan hoped to share the achievements and future opportunities with these friends.

Members of the Henan Provincial Party Committee, the Henan People's Congress, the Henan Provincial Government, and the CPPCC Henan Committee, attended the banquet.

Former winners of the Yellow River Friendship Award were also present (including Dr. Shawn Chen). Also present were leaders of several universities in Henan, senior executives of international cooperative enterprises, and government officials from across China, including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Dr. Chen was seated at the Governor's table and spoke with other dignitaries about Sias' growth, development, the preparations for the 20th Anniversary, and the joint the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) and International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) Meeting to be held at Sias in 2019. A number of government officials who were present there were invited to Sias' 20th Anniversary celebrations.