Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Delivers Speech at Tsinghua

Former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, a Schwarzman Scholars Honorary Advisory Board member, visited Tsinghua University on April 27th. During her visit, Dr. Rice delivered a speech to the students and had an up-close-and-personal dialogue with some Tsinghua School of Economics and Management students. Tsinghua University President Chen Jining held discussions with Dr. Rice prior to her speech. Tsinghua VP Xie Weihe was also present at the discussions.

In her speech, entitled “The Importance of Education”, Dr. Rice noted that education is a source of economic growth and well-being. She said that it is a gift to sit in a great university and receive a great education, and to be an educated person is a privilege. She encouraged the students to make full use of their university time and take their place, responsible for the strengthening of their society, their country, and humankind as a whole.

“When you are helping those who have less than you do, you will never again ask ‘Why don’t I have that?’ You will say ‘Why do I have so much?’ And that is a very fundamental and important foundation for citizenship in any country,” she told the students.

Dr. Rice also visited the Schwarzman College construction site during the day.