President Qiu Yong Receives Honorary Doctorate from Chuo University
On July 23, the conferment ceremony to award an honorary doctorate to the President of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong was held at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan. Attending the ceremony were Gu Binglin, former President of Tsinghua University, Xue Qikun, the Vice President of Tsinghua University, Shozaburo Sakai, the Chancellor of Chuo University, Tadahiko Fukuhara, the President of Chuo University, Masahiko Omura, the Chief Executive Regent of Chuo University, and other representatives from the two universities. Former President Gu Binglin received the honorary doctorate on behalf of President Qiu. 60 students from Tsinghua University and 10 entrepreneurs from the School of Continuing Education, Tsinghua University, attended the ceremony.
President Qiu expressed his sense of honor and thanks at receiving the honorary title from Chuo University in his speech delivered via video. He noted that Tsinghua University and Chuo University have had close ties and a friendly relationship for a long time. The Research Center for Japanese Studies established in Tsinghua University in 2009 further improved the joint research cooperation between the two universities. He hoped that the cooperation between the two universities would be further deepened and broadened to more fields in the future.
“Tsinghua University will continue to promote cultural exchange and communication between the young students from the two universities in a positive manner, strengthen cooperation with different walks of life in Japan, maintain a good relationship between the two universities, and contribute to lasting friendly relations between China and Japan,” said President Qiu.
Shozaburo Sakai, the Chancellor of Chuo University, extended his congratulations to President Qiu on his being conferred with the honorary title in his address. He introduced the achievements President Qiu had made in academia and the contributions he made to the development of Tsinghua University and universities worldwide. “President Qiu plays an important role in enhancing cultural exchange and educational communication between China and Japan. The conferring of the honorary doctorate is a reflection and confirmation of the academic achievements and social commitment he has made”, Chancellor Sakai said.
Tadahiko Fukuhara, the President of Chuo University, also congratulated President Qiu on his award of the honorary doctorate, and wished him greater success in the future.
Before the conferment ceremony, former President Gu, on behalf of President Qiu, and Masahiko Omura, the Chief Executive Regent of Chuo University, together signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which aimed to further develop the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two universities as well as between China and Japan in the new era. In addition, an agreement to further promote cooperation between the two Schools of Law of the two universities was also signed.
Following the conferment ceremony, the opening ceremony for a tree-planting activity was held in the campus of Chuo University. Three crabapple trees, which symbolize the growing and lasting friendship between Tsinghua University and Chuo University, were planted together by the leaders from the two universities. About 150 students from Tsinghua University attended the ceremony.
Chuo University came into the world as Igirisu Horitsu Gakko (English Law School) in the aftermath of the Meiji Restoration in 1885. The School was founded in Kanda-Nishikicho, Tokyo, by 18 young attorneys, among them Rokuichiro Masujima who took office as the School’s first director. After two years’ development, the initial student body of 97 people had grown to over 600. In 1889, the year the Meiji Constitution was ratified, the school moved from the old samurai residence it had inhabited to a stylish new two-story brick building. In October of the same year, the school was renamed Tokyo Hogakuin (Tokyo College of Law), with the aim of providing a broad legal education.
Writer: Guo Lili
