The opening ceremony of Tsinghua-Yale Environment and Sustainable Development Leadership Program (ESDLP) co-hosted by THU, Yale University and China Association of Mayors (CAM), was held on June 4.

Prof. Qiu Yong, Vice President of THU, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcoming speech. Ms. Cheng Guilan, Deputy Inspector of The Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Ms. Tao Siliang, Executive Vice President of CAM, both delivered speeches at the meeting.

Around 22 secretaries of municipal committees of the CPC and mayors from 12 cities joined in the program this year. They attended classes at SOE from June 4 to June 8 and then continued the program at Yale University and the city of NewYork and Portland from June 9 to June 22.

ESDLP was initiated in 2003 and lasted 3 years for the first period. More than 60 students participated in the program. The second period began in 2009 and there have been about 40 officals who have completed the program.