Inaugural Ceremony held for the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, Tsinghua University
The inaugural ceremony for the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, Tsinghua University (TUSDG) and The Belt and Road Initiative and Global Sustainable Development Forum was held in the main building of Tsinghua on May 14th, 2017. The TUSDG aims to establish a leading platform to conduct interdisciplinary research, serve as a UN SDGs oriented talent-training base and collaborate with global partners to address challenges in implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is the first interdisciplinary institute on SDGs in China.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a message of greetings to TUSDG. “The establishment of the Tsinghua Institute shows yet again the commitment and ambition of the Chinese Government and people to act at all levels of society to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world’s shared plan to build a future of peace, prosperity and dignity for all on a healthy planet. I thank the Tsinghua Institute for its efforts to conduct research on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and to educate younger generations and professionals. There is still a long way to go in this vital work. Your new Institute, working as an esteemed member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and with many parts of the UN system, as well as with the broader network of partners in the development and academic communities, will help advance thinking and action for the SDGs. You can also serve as a bridge between China and the rest of the world, including the Global South, for mutual learning and exchange to drive SDG solutions and achievement.”
Mr. WU Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs also sent a message of greetings to the Institute. “I am deeply inspired by this initiative - not only because the new research institute is dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals but also because it is a testimony to the global vision and perspective of Tsinghua University.” He shared his expectations with the members of the TUSDG that they will need to be independent thinkers, inspiring and informing policymakers in their decision-making processes, the voice of reason, advising policymakers especially when their plans are not working, as well as a reliable partner of policymakers and the champions who always adopt a systemic view and a long-term perspective, to guide future plans strategically and to speak truth to power.
In the greeting message from Yves Flückiger, Rector of University of Geneva, he reviewed the collaborative cooperation between Tsinghua University and University of Geneva on education for the UN SDGs, especially the very ambitious joint education programme around the SDGs, ranging from workshops and summer schools to a jointly run Masters programme. He expressed heart-felt congratulations to the inauguration of TUSDG. “Today’s inauguration of TUSDG is a major milestone, not just in our university-level collaboration for the Geneva Tsinghua Initiative, but in demonstrating the commitment that China as a whole is making to achieve a more sustainable future.”
On the same day, President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua University held talks with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia and signed a Letter of Intent on cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Industry to promote communication and cooperation with the industrial sector and universities of Indonesia, and jointly train innovative and entrepreneurial talents for Industry. Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of National Development of the Republic of Indonesia sent a message of greetings to the inauguration of TUSDG. He expressed that great efforts have been made by Indonesia Government in the implementation of SDGs. He emphasized that Indonesia will further enhance the cooperation with Tsinghua University in the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Professor YANG Bin, Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Director of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), MENG Xiaosi, Standing Committee Member of CPPCC National Committee, Vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), Ms. Mari Elka Pangestu, President of United in Diversity Foundation (UID), Former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, Amb Sudrajat, Former Ambassador of Indonesia to China, Professor LIU Yanhua, Counselor of the State Council, Director of the National Committee of Experts on Climate Change, Board member of the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, Tsinghua University, Former Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology, Irene Khan, Director-General of International Development Law Organization, Guido Schmidt-Traub, Executive Director of SDSN, Patrick Haverman, Deputy Country Director of UNDP China, Cherie Nursalim, Vice Chairman of GITI Group and Board Members of TUSDG including HE Kebin, LI Qiang, ZHANG Yue, YANG Yongheng, CHEN Wei as well as over 150 public administration practitioners, Foreign diplomats in China, scholars, journalists, teachers and students from and outside Tsinghua University participated in the inaugural ceremony.
In the ceremony, YANG Bin read the Tsinghua announcement of the establishment of TUSDG and awarded the letter of appointment to Professor Jeffrey Sachs as Chair of the International Academic Committee of the TUSDG. YANG Bin, Jeffrey Sachs, LIU Yanhua, MENG Xiaosi, XUE Lan, HE Kebin, Cherie Nursalim and CHEN Wei unveiled the plaque for the TUSDG.
Before the inaugural ceremony of TUSDG, the first meeting of Board of Directors was held and hosted by YANG Bin. Charter, overall planning and appointment of Dean of the TUSDG were approved in the meeting.
Board of Directors of TUSDG
The Belt and Road Initiative and Global Sustainable Development Forum was held after the inaugural ceremony. Keynote speeches were delivered by Jeffrey Sachs, LIU Yanhua and HE Kebin respectively. This forum was hosted by ZHU Xufeng, Associate Dean of SPPM and Executive Dean of TUSDG.
Nikhil Seth, the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Bernard Debarbieux, Dean of Geneva School of Social Science (G3S) congratulate the establishment TUSDG by videos.
About TUSDG:
Housed in the School of Public Policy and Management in Tsinghua University, the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG) aims to establish a leading platform to conduct interdisciplinary research and collaborate with global partners to address challenges in implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating theoretical learning and practical experience in the field, the TUSDG also strives to cultivate a new generation of talents who are dedicated to the implementation of SDGs and improvement of global governance. In addition, The TUSDG will make every effort at creating a high-end open platform in the research field of SDGs, attracting world-class experts and scholars to be involved in teaching and research activities. Finally, the institute aspires to become a leading think tank in China on SDGs related policies through cooperative partnerships with relevant government agencies.
(From School of Public Policy & Management)
