Tsinghua graduate and former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji has donated US$100,000 to the School of Economics and Management, the entire sum of an award given to him by the European Union for his contributions to building China-Europe business ties.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder presented the “European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Prize” to Mr. Zhu at a ceremony in Beijing Dec. 7.

The former Chinese premier, who was dean of SEM from 1984 to 2001, said he was giving the prize money to SEM in recognition of the school's past achievements and its accomplishments yet to come.

Tsinghua President Gu Binglin accepted the donation and extended his heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Zhu on behalf of the university.

This was the second time the prize has been offered. The first award went to former U.S. president Bill Clinton in 1999.

Translated by Liu Aixiang