HONG KONG, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of renowned Chinese writer Eileen Chang, who has a significant place in the modern Chinese literary world. Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) is honoured to receive a generous donation from Dr Roland Soong and his elder sister, Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman, administrators of Eileen Chang's estate, which includes Eileen Chang's manuscripts, relics, and correspondence with her best friends, Stephen Soong and his wife, Mae Fong Soong, and others. The collection sheds light on Chang's creative journey and the influence of the Soong couple on her career development and personal life. It will be the permanently housed at HKMU, providing an invaluable collection of cultural heritage for the literary community and researchers, and further promoting modern Chinese literary research and the innovative development of the digital humanities.
The donation ceremony held today (12 February) was officiated by Dr Roland Soong, Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman, Ir Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, HKMU Council Chairman, and Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU President. The donation includes thousands of manuscripts and personal items from Eileen Chang and the Soong couple. Selected items from the collection were featured in a preview for guests and media at the event, including some of Eileen Chang's original manuscripts, her correspondence with the Soong couple and personal photographs. The preview also included letters exchanged between Mr Soong and distinguished Chinese literary scholars and writers, like Qian Zhong-shu (錢é¾æ›¸), reflecting Mr Soong's footprint and contribution to the Chinese cultural realm.
At the ceremony, Dr Soong said that the most important aim for him and his sister, as administrators of the estates of Eileen Chang and their parents, was to ensure the manuscripts and relics of the three will be properly preserved through this donation, for research and literature promotion. "It is rare to find such a significant literary collection of manuscripts and relics of Eileen Chang and my parents in Hong Kong," he said. "I hope that through HKMU, we can help foster the preservation and inheritance of, and research on, modern literary works, allowing more people to appreciate their works from different perspectives and promoting Chinese literature in Hong Kong and around the world."
On behalf of HKMU, Ir Dr Wong expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Soong family for their generous donation, which provides valuable resources for the Hong Kong academic and cultural communities and stands as recognition of the University's commitment to the preservation and research of modern literary works. "The University will cherish and make the best use of these cultural treasures," he said. "Through research, exhibitions and digital humanities innovations, we aim to allow our faculty, students, the public, researchers and even tourists to experience the charm of these cultural gems up close. It will help enhance the University's influence in promoting modern Chinese literature and advancing digital humanities innovation in Hong Kong and beyond."
Prof. Lam thanked the Soong family for their trust in the University, noting that the donation is believed to be the largest collection of Eileen Chang and the Soong couple in the Chinese-speaking world. "HKMU is dedicated to enhancing students' knowledge and advancing research capacity, and the digital humanities and literature have been one of its strategic research areas," he said. "This cultural heritage collection housed at HKMU will give new impetus to the University and related literary studies, and help promote interdisciplinary, cross-institutional and cross-regional research to gain deeper insights into modern Chinese literature and foster cultural inheritance."
To preserve and pass on these precious documents and drive related research, Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, HKMU Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development), said that the School of Arts and Social Sciences and the Library have teamed up to build a database of archival documents and digital collections by adopting a digital humanities approach. The Library will also establish two specific sections, namely the "Special Collection of Eileen Chang" and the "Special Collection of Stephen Soong and Mae Fong Soong". Additionally, an open exhibition is being planned to let the public gain a deeper understanding of the literary works and remarkable achievements of Eileen Chang and the Soongs, as well as Hong Kong's crucial role in the development of Chinese literature worldwide.
In the sharing session, Dr Rebecca Leung Mo-ling, convenor of the donation programme and Associate Dean (Administration and Development) of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at HKMU, who specialises in Modern Chinese Literature research, talked about the significant role Stephen Soong played in the Chinese cultural field. In addition to being a literary critic, translator and poet with an extensive personal network, he was an indispensable intermediary in the development of Eileen Chang's writing career. Dr Leung said she hoped the donation and associated promotional activities would inspire more people to explore the world of modern Chinese literature.
Mr Owen Tam Man-lik, University Librarian and another convener of the donation programme, said the collection, preservation, digitisation and promotion of the donated items represent an important step by the HKMU Library to preserve and promote cultural heritage. He hoped the collection would not only enrich the resources of the University Library but also provide valuable academic research materials for scholars worldwide and benefit the public interested in modern Chinese literature and the works of Eileen Chang and the Soong couple.
Please click on the following link to visit the HKMU Modern Chinese Literature Collection:
https://repository.lib.hkmu.edu.hk/mcl/
List of the preview items (Chinese only)
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/PAO/events/2025/250212_Dr Roland Soong and Mrs Elaine Soong Kingman Donation Ceremony/HKMU donation ceremony_factsheet_exhibited items.pdf
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HKMU receives precious manuscripts and relics from Eileen Chang, Stephen Soong and Mae Fong Soong; Literary treasures to be digitally preserved to promote modern Chinese literature research
- CATL opens Middle East's first NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh —currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China.
- The facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
- It also functions as a regional ecosystem hub linking diverse stakeholders and resources to drive industrial synergy and sustainable growth.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 10, 2026, CATL opened the Middle East's first and currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China—the NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh—strengthening its after-sales presence in the Middle East and supporting the region's shift toward cleaner energy systems.
The opening comes as Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East advance ambitious electrification and decarbonization goals under Vision 2030 and similar national initiatives. Taking Saudi Arabia as an example, The Kingdom has set a goal to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030, as part of a larger strategy to reduce emissions in the capital city by 50%. Sustainability policies are also driving the shift to electric equipment, such as promoting the use of electric forklifts, while encouraging the use of green energy on farms under the Saudi Green Initiative. However, progress is tempered by persistent challenges, including longstanding oil dependency, surging electricity demand, extreme climatic conditions, and limited charging and service infrastructure.
Strategically designed to overcome these obstacles, the Riyadh facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
Covering more than 7,000 square meters, the Riyadh center combines exhibition areas, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training spaces, and a customer lounge. It is designed to serve not only as a localized service hub for the region and a showcase of CATL's system-level capabilities across electric mobility, energy storage, and intelligent electrification, but also as a platform that links diverse resources, fostering industrial synergy across the ecosystem.
A full-lifecycle approach to new energy services
Relying on CATL's deep R&D and extreme manufacturing capabilities, NING SERVICE Experience Center provides customers with full-lifecycle services that encompass battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training, recycling, aftermarket logistics and warehousing. Its services span over seven major product categories—from passenger and commercial vehicles to energy storage systems—along with diverse repair scenarios, setting a new benchmark for new energy service delivery in the region.
Leveraging CATL's advanced diagnostics and repair expertise, along with established service processes, the center's comprehensive after-sales services
helps enterprise customers reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and extend asset life, providing greater certainty around long-term performance and residual value while reducing long-term ownership costs and delivering more cost-effective and reliable services for end users.
Advancing localized operations and capability building
The Riyadh center serves as a key platform for CATL's localized operations in the Middle East, supporting talent development and long-term local value creation. Through dedicated training facilities, CATL builds after-sales and technical expertise in the new energy sector, contributing to skilled employment and knowledge transfer across the Middle East. Globally, NING SERVICE operates 10 training centers, totalling 2,300 square meters, and has certified more than 9,700 new energy after-sales professionals through partnerships with vocational institutions.
Beyond talent development, CATL is deepening its localization strategy by reinforcing local infrastructure and building ecosystem partnerships. CATL is in discussion with top-tier local industry players—including fuel network operators to rapidly provide green electricity to gas stations and major infrastructure companies to electrify their truck fleets, as well as energy companies to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions.
These initiatives not only bolster CATL's local service capabilities and market confidence, but also by enabling key partners, jointly drive the scaled adoption of comprehensive new energy solutions across the Middle East.
"As a leading energy company in Saudi Arabia, we see tremendous opportunities in energy transformation. For instance, we plan to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions at our gas stations and electrify forklifts to reduce reliance on oil. We look forward to collaborating with top players like CATL to drive this transition forward," said Ahmed Ibrahim，Assistant General Manager For Procurement of Al Drees, a leading provider of petroleum and logistics services in Saudi Arabia.
"The launch of CATL's Riyadh aftermarket flagship underscores our shared commitment to driving the global energy transition. This milestone not only reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia but also embodies our collective vision for a cleaner, electrified future. As the investor behind the experience centre, we are confident that this partnership will accelerate electrification and strengthen the region's role in advancing the energy transition." said Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S.
Part of a global network
The Saudi Arabia opening builds on CATL's global service footprint, which includes more than 1,200 professional service stations across 76 countries and 73 spare-parts warehouses worldwide. CATL ranks No. 1 globally in spare parts inventory stocked with 100% genuine parts, with a total warehouse area of more than 370,000 square meters. To date, NING SERVICE has supported more than six million electric vehicles, providing professional after-sales services for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage customers.
A long-term commitment to the Middle East
Bruce Li, President of Quality System, Aftermarket Business, Battery Management System Department at CATL, said the Riyadh center reflects a strategic, long-term view of the region.
"Our decision to establish this center in Riyadh is not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment," Li said. "As the first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, it is more than a service facility. It is a new energy aftermarket ecosystem hub that brings together advanced technology, professional training, and industry collaboration—effectively connecting diverse stakeholders and resources to foster deeper synergy and sustainable growth across the region. Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and support the region's energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system."
As the Middle East accelerates its shift toward electrification and energy storage adoption, CATL's expanded NING SERVICE presence is poised to deliver the technical reliability and sustained partnerships essential for this transformation.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 10, 2026, CATL opened the Middle East's first and currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China—the NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh—strengthening its after-sales presence in the Middle East and supporting the region's shift toward cleaner energy systems.
The opening comes as Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East advance ambitious electrification and decarbonization goals under Vision 2030 and similar national initiatives. Taking Saudi Arabia as an example, The Kingdom has set a goal to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030, as part of a larger strategy to reduce emissions in the capital city by 50%. Sustainability policies are also driving the shift to electric equipment, such as promoting the use of electric forklifts, while encouraging the use of green energy on farms under the Saudi Green Initiative. However, progress is tempered by persistent challenges, including longstanding oil dependency, surging electricity demand, extreme climatic conditions, and limited charging and service infrastructure.
Strategically designed to overcome these obstacles, the Riyadh facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
Covering more than 7,000 square meters, the Riyadh center combines exhibition areas, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training spaces, and a customer lounge. It is designed to serve not only as a localized service hub for the region and a showcase of CATL's system-level capabilities across electric mobility, energy storage, and intelligent electrification, but also as a platform that links diverse resources, fostering industrial synergy across the ecosystem.
A full-lifecycle approach to new energy services
Relying on CATL's deep R&D and extreme manufacturing capabilities, NING SERVICE Experience Center provides customers with full-lifecycle services that encompass battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training, recycling, aftermarket logistics and warehousing. Its services span over seven major product categories—from passenger and commercial vehicles to energy storage systems—along with diverse repair scenarios, setting a new benchmark for new energy service delivery in the region.
Leveraging CATL's advanced diagnostics and repair expertise, along with established service processes, the center's comprehensive after-sales services
helps enterprise customers reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and extend asset life, providing greater certainty around long-term performance and residual value while reducing long-term ownership costs and delivering more cost-effective and reliable services for end users.
Advancing localized operations and capability building
The Riyadh center serves as a key platform for CATL's localized operations in the Middle East, supporting talent development and long-term local value creation. Through dedicated training facilities, CATL builds after-sales and technical expertise in the new energy sector, contributing to skilled employment and knowledge transfer across the Middle East. Globally, NING SERVICE operates 10 training centers, totalling 2,300 square meters, and has certified more than 9,700 new energy after-sales professionals through partnerships with vocational institutions.
Beyond talent development, CATL is deepening its localization strategy by reinforcing local infrastructure and building ecosystem partnerships. CATL is in discussion with top-tier local industry players—including fuel network operators to rapidly provide green electricity to gas stations and major infrastructure companies to electrify their truck fleets, as well as energy companies to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions.
These initiatives not only bolster CATL's local service capabilities and market confidence, but also by enabling key partners, jointly drive the scaled adoption of comprehensive new energy solutions across the Middle East.
"As a leading energy company in Saudi Arabia, we see tremendous opportunities in energy transformation. For instance, we plan to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions at our gas stations and electrify forklifts to reduce reliance on oil. We look forward to collaborating with top players like CATL to drive this transition forward," said Ahmed Ibrahim，Assistant General Manager For Procurement of Al Drees, a leading provider of petroleum and logistics services in Saudi Arabia.
"The launch of CATL's Riyadh aftermarket flagship underscores our shared commitment to driving the global energy transition. This milestone not only reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia but also embodies our collective vision for a cleaner, electrified future. As the investor behind the experience centre, we are confident that this partnership will accelerate electrification and strengthen the region's role in advancing the energy transition." said Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S.
Part of a global network
The Saudi Arabia opening builds on CATL's global service footprint, which includes more than 1,200 professional service stations across 76 countries and 73 spare-parts warehouses worldwide. CATL ranks No. 1 globally in spare parts inventory stocked with 100% genuine parts, with a total warehouse area of more than 370,000 square meters. To date, NING SERVICE has supported more than six million electric vehicles, providing professional after-sales services for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage customers.
A long-term commitment to the Middle East
Bruce Li, President of Quality System, Aftermarket Business, Battery Management System Department at CATL, said the Riyadh center reflects a strategic, long-term view of the region.
"Our decision to establish this center in Riyadh is not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment," Li said. "As the first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, it is more than a service facility. It is a new energy aftermarket ecosystem hub that brings together advanced technology, professional training, and industry collaboration—effectively connecting diverse stakeholders and resources to foster deeper synergy and sustainable growth across the region. Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and support the region's energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system."
As the Middle East accelerates its shift toward electrification and energy storage adoption, CATL's expanded NING SERVICE presence is poised to deliver the technical reliability and sustained partnerships essential for this transformation.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
