Tsinghua University Celebrates Centennial Anniversary
Tsinghua University celebrated its centennial anniversary on April 24. Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, and other state and Communist Party leaders including Jia Qinglin, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang attended the celebration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
President Hu delivered a speech during the celebration. He said that institutions of higher education should place quality at the top of their agenda and enhance innovation and research. He extended congratulations and greetings to Tsinghua's students, faculty and alumni. He praised the university's cultural traditions, history and contribution to the nation and noted its efforts to continuously improve the quality of its education.
He also called on students to be ambitious and diligent and strive to build a brilliant future for the nation. He said the country's building of socialist modernization is providing youth with great opportunities to explore and display their talent.
"The overall quality of the entire country's higher education should also be promoted, as education is a fundamental element for the sound and rapid development of China's economy and society," President Hu said.
Efforts should also be made to foster the all-round development of students and universities should enhance their innovative and research capability, he said.
"I hope that young students in China strive to develop both their academic and moral excellence, their innovative minds and hands-on experiences, and to combine their all-round development with their individual specialties," President Hu said.
He also urged educators to follow professional ethics, and encouraged students to maintain their individuality by thinking independently.
Tsinghua University President Gu Binglin spoke at the convention. Tsinghua University Council Chairman Hu Heping hosted the convention.
"The centenary of Tsinghua marks an important milestone as well as a new starting point in Tsinghua's development," said President Gu. "Tsinghua adheres to the university motto of 'Self-discipline and Social Commitment', sets higher goals and raises educational standards, translates its fine tradition into strength in training human resources, produces more talents and original works, continues to make discoveries, enhances international exchange and cooperation, and makes meets challenges while contributing to solving global problems."
Peking University President Zhou Qifeng and Yale University President Richard C. Levin presented congratulations as representatives from domestic and foreign universities.
Originally founded in 1911 as a training school for students aiming to study abroad, Tsinghua University is one of the country's prime institutions of higher learning. It has fostered many outstanding scholars, successful entrepreneurs and distinguished statesmen.
It has more than 170,000 alumni, who have made a significant contribution to the development of the country, across a number of fields.
Tsinghua inaugurated its centenary year at the time of its 99th anniversary in April 2010. During the past twelve months, many academic and other activities were held in honor of the 100th anniversary. The major centenary celebration was held from April 22-24, bringing together alumni who came from around the country and abroad for a weekend of reunions.
Xinhua and China Daily contributed to this story.
(Photo by Lan Hongguang, Rao Aimin, Guo Haijun, and Li Tao)
