The inauguration of the Beijing Chapter of IHEID Alumni Association took place on July 26th 2016 at Residence of the Embassy of Switzerland in China. The event was attended by more than 30 alumni, embassy staff and guests. As a distinguished IHEID alumnus, Ambassador Jean-Jacques de Dardel delivered the opening speech, followed by 3 briefings on the preparation of the Chapter, activities planned for the future and the Draft Statute of the Beijing Chapter by Ting Fang (President of the Chapter's Interim Administrative Board), Adrian Schmied (Acting VP of the Interim AB) and Qian Wu (Secretary of the Interim AB) respectively. A statute for the chapter was adopted at the event, laying the cornerstone for this community. The event was filled with friends' reunion, new discoveries, nostalgia and networking. It created an ideal occasion for the Graduate Institute graduates living in the city to meet up.