Commemoration Celebration held as part of CQU’s 90th Anniversary
Chongqing University is celebrating its 90th Anniversary. On the morning of October 12, 2019, the Commemoration Celebration of the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University was held at the Storm-proof Playground, Campus A, Chongqing University.
Xiangba Pingcuo, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, Tang Liangzhi, mayor of Chongqing and deputy secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, Zhang Xuan, chairman of Chongqing NPC Standing Committee, Wang Ruisheng, head of the Second Central Guiding Group for “Sticking to Original Intention and Mission” Themed Education, Sun Yao, vice minister and a member of the Party Group of the Ministry of Education, Li Yuefeng, an alumnus of Chongqing University and central executive deputy director of Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, Major General Fu Ling, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chief of staff of the Chinese Armed Police Force, Liu Peng, an alumnus of Chongqing University and former director of the State General Administration of Sport, Duan Yuying, an alumnus of Chongqing University and former deputy secretary of the working committee of an agency directly under CCCPC, Du Liming, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chairman of Chongqing NPC Standing Committee, Qu Qian, deputy mayor of the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality, Wu Gang, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chairman of Chongqing Municipal Committee of CPPCC and Wang Xinqiang, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chairman of Chongqing Municipal Committee of CPPCC, attended the Celebration.
Zhang Jun, president of Beijing University of technology and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Jin Donghan, president of Tianjin University and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Guo Dongming, president of Dalian University of technology and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chen Jie, president of Tongji University and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang Guangjun, president of Southeast University and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Wang Jianguo, secretary of CPC Committee of Sichuan University, Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Major General Nan Xiaogang, Major General Wang Yungui, Major General Zhou Yanming, Major General Wang Weijun, Liu Mingzhong, secretary of the CPC Committee, chairman of CFHI, and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Yu Yuanmu, former vice chairman of Chongqing NPC Standing Committee and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Xu Zongjun, former vice chairman and Chongqing CPPCC and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Chen Wanzhi, former vice chairman of Chongqing CPPCC and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Yang Tianyi, former vice chairman of Chongqing CPPCC and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Li Jianchun, former vice chairman of Chongqing CPPCC and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Yang Yingnan, former executive vice director of Yunnan Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Wu Bilian, former vice governor of Gansu Province and an alumnus of Chongqing University, Chen Dewen, former secretary of CPC Committee of Jilin University, Zhu Jialin, former secretary of CPC Chongqing University Committee, Ou Keping, former president of Chongqing University, Lin Jianhua, former president of Peking University, Zhou Xuhong, former president of Chongqing University and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Ma Shengrong, former vice president of Xinhua News Agency, and honorary dean of School of Journalism, Chongqing University, Guo Shangping, Gao Song, Huang Wei, Zhang pingwen, Qian Qihu, Liu Jiaping, Yang Shizhong, Xian Xuefu, Yang Yongbin, Pan Fusheng, Yukio Tamura and other academicians, officials of sister universities at home and abroad, well-known alumni, relevant ministries and commissions of the state, some key enterprises of the state, officials and guests from universities at home and abroad, relevant departments at the municipal level in Chongqing, districts and counties in Chongqing, cooperation units and organizations, and Board of Directors of Chongqing University attended the Celebration. Members of the school's leading group, former officials, teachers and students, alumni representatives and some descendants of the university founders attended the Celebration as well.
Zhou Xun, secretary of CPC CQU Committee, presided at the Celebration.
Qu Qian, deputy mayor of the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality, read the letter of congratulation on the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University from CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and the municipal government.
Qu Qian, deputy mayor of the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality
Zhou Xun read the letter of congratulation sent by Li Xiaohong, president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and secretary of the Party Group.
Zhou Xun, secretary of CPC CQU Committee
Central ministries and commissions, relevant departments of Chongqing, domestic and foreign universities, PLA, people's organizations, social celebrities, alumni associations and alumni of Chongqing University at home and abroad also expressed their good wishes for the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University by means of letter of congratulation and video clips.
At 8:30am, the Commemoration Celebration kicked off while Under the Ficus Virens and Image Promotion Video of Chongqing University were being played. Students, teachers and alumni of Chongqing University were lit up by the view. Guo Xiaomin, the alumni representative, presided at the return ceremony of the university flag after it was passed around the world. The university flag had been passed across 19 countries and 74 cities all over the world in the past half a year, and now it was returned to Chongqing University carrying the fishes of alumni across the world.
The Celebration was divided into a number of chapters, including “Founding of Chongqing University”, “Rapid Development of Chongqing University”, “A Galaxy of Talents”, and “Ever-growing Chongqing University”.
Since modern times, the world situation has been turbulent, the rise of great powers has been in urgent need of new knowledge, and China has been hungry for outstanding talents. Many patriots and scholars proposed to establish Bayu University, and the seniors of East Sichuan donated money to promote education and serve the country. On October 12, 1929, following the system of modern universities in the world, and in an effort to rejuvenate the Chinese nation, Chongqing University announced its founding.
Since its, Chongqing University has been developing rapidly. In the past 90 years, Chongqing University sticks to its notion that “one should not expect to reach the goal in one step but should remain vibrant after taking ten steps”, in an ultimate effort to cultivate talents, promote education and prosper the country.
In recent years, as Chongqing has entered a new era of development, Chongqing University has been promoting education and serving the society and people’s livelihood, and sticking to the construction goal of “the world-first-rate university with Chinese characteristics”. With “innovation driven connotative development” as its goal, Chongqing University has been racing against time with stamina and diligence, to provide outstanding intelligent support and talent supporting services for Chongqing University, promote high-quality development of Chongqing’s economy and society and contribute to the “Double-First-Rate” construction of Chongqing University.
In the “Founding of Chongqing University” Chapter, Chongqing University people reviewed the founding declaration of Chongqing University. They would always keep their initial intention in mind and uphold the spiritual characters, “diligence, simplicity, hardworking and patriotism”, so as to achieve the goal of building a “complete and profound university.”
In the “Rapid Development” Chapter, Zhang Zongyi, president of Chongqing University, reviewed the development history of Chongqing University in the past 90 years.
Zhang Zongyi said that the development history of Chongqing University was the witness of the close connection between university development and national prosperity and national rejuvenation. The development history of 90 years was not only a vivid picture of the vigorous development of higher education from the beginning of modern higher education to the new China, but also a picture of entrepreneurship and struggle to serve the motherland and the people.
Zhang Zongyi, president of Chongqing University
Zhang pointed out that in the past 90 years, Chongqing University has always been a pioneer of scientific and technological innovation with academic research as its mission; a forerunner of talent cultivation with talent nurturing as its foundation; a bellwether of people’s wellbeing with the responsibility of protecting the country; a pioneer of modern trend with the ideal of prospering the society.
Zhang Zongyi said that at such an important moment as the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University, as a class-A university under the “Double-First-Rate” Construction Program designated by the central government in west China, Chongqing University should live up to the hope and higher requirements of CPC and the state government. Facing the future, we must further improve our standing and positioning, adhere to the guidance of President Xi Jinping's new era socialism with Chinese characteristics, enhance "four-consciousness", strengthen "four self-confidence", carry out "two-maintenance", fully implement the CPC’s education policy and firmly enforce the socialist orientation of school running. We should draw wisdom and strength from the 90 years of glorious development history, never forget our original intention and mission, revive the nation and vow to be the vanguard, adhere to development as the essence, excellence as the soul, and people as the center. We should also take first-rate universities as the benchmark, pursue excellence, serve development and lead the future, and strive to promote the "Double-First-Rate" construction, characteristic construction and high-quality construction, and make ultimate efforts to explore the road to a world-first-rate university with Chinese characteristics. Furthermore, we should build and develop Chongqing University with joint efforts, take on the historical responsibility of educating people for CPC and China with higher quality achievements and higher level education ability, so as to live up to the trust and high expectation of CPC and our people.
Zhang Guangjun, president of Southeast University, is the representative of domestic colleges and universities. Firstly, he extended his best wishes for the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University. He said that the two universities were closely connected to each other like brothers and sisters. Although Southeast University and Chongqing University are thousands of miles apart, they have an indissoluble bond and deep friendship. During the Anti-Japanese War 82 years ago, 4,000 teachers and students from the predecessor of Southeast University, the National Central University, moved westward as a whole. Chongqing University welcomed them and provided them with a place to teach and learn. The two universities were then forging ahead in the same boat and this has become a much-told story about education history of China. Two years ago, the two universities jointly held an activity themed "Moving Westward Again". To this day, as universities under the “Double-First-Rate” Construction Program directly under the Ministry of Education and members of Excellence 9, the two universities will continue to deepen comprehensive cooperation, work together to embrace the new era, share new missions and forge ahead on a new journey.
Zhang Guangjun, president of Southeast University, the representative of domestic colleges and universities
Neville Pinto, president of the University of Cincinnati, the representative of foreign colleges and universities, pointed out in his speech that the two universities had been drawing on the outstanding and long-standing tradition of higher education for decades. The glory of Chongqing University in the past 90 years inspired people’s confidence for a bright future.
Neville Pinto, president of the University of Cincinnati, the representative of foreign colleges and universities
In the “A Galaxy of Talents” Chapter, students and teachers witnessed a touching scene. Student representatives presented eight teacher representatives with flowers as a way to show their gratitude towards them.
The teacher representatives were respectively Professor Xu Xiangsui born between 1929 and 1949, Professor Xu Mingtao born between 1949 and 1959, Professor Bai Shaoliang born between 1959 and 1969, Professor Qin Depei born between 1969 and 1979, Professor Yang Shizhong born between 1979 and 1989, Professor Sima Wenxia born between 1989 and 1999, Professor Huang He born between 1999 and 2009, Professor Li Yongyi born between 2009 and 2019.
Student representatives included Ding Chuanpei on his 95th birthday, a student of 1945, Liu Peng, former director of General Administration of Sport of China, a student of 1979, Wu Bilian, former vice governor of Gansu Province, a student of 1962, Liu Mingzhong, chairman of CHFI, a student of 1977, Tang Lixin, chairman of Shinesun, a student of 1981, Professor Lu Shuai, a scholar under the Young Overseas High-level Talents Introduction Plan, a student of 1993, Li Li, the “Person of the Year of Chinese University Students”, a student of 2007 and Li Linwei, a “National Aggressive and Kind-hearted Youth”, a student of 2013.
When the senior professors with grey hair were supported to the stage, and they took the flowers from the students' hands, there were roars of applauses. This meeting after so many years moved the audience to tears.
Alumni representative Xiangba Pingcuo said in his speech that he had left his alma mater for many years, but his love for the alma mater was always deep in his heart. The firm education direction and caring education mode of the alma mater, especially the school spirit of rejuvenating the nation and leading the country’s education, had become precious wealth of his whole life and the foundation of the efforts of the alumni. Today, more and more alumni had become the backbone of all sectors of the society, a powerful force in building socialist modernization, and lived up to the expectations of their alma mater. We would always bear in mind what our alma mater had taught us, care about the development of our alma mater, rejoice in her constant changes, cheer for her bold momentum, and be proud of her growing achievements.
Xiangba Pingcuo, an alumnus of Chongqing University and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress,
Pan Fusheng, the teacher representative and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said in his speech that in the past 90 years, teachers of Chongqing University have been sticking to the mission to "study academics, cultivate talents, rejuvenate the country and inspire the society". They had been making unremitted efforts all the time, and have cultivated and provided a large number of outstanding talents for the country and Chongqing. More than 40 of them had been elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. And in serving the society, Chongqing University teachers had also made a large number of important scientific and technological innovations. He said that CQU teachers should consciously enhance their sense of honor and responsibility of promoting morality and educating people, strive to be desirable enlighteners and value leader of wisdom, and do their best to become pioneers of scientific and technological innovation and doers of serving the society.
Pan Fusheng, the teacher representative and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
On behalf of 50,000 Chongqing University students, Guo Zhukun, an undergraduate student of 2016 from the School of Civil Engineering, solemnly vowed that she would always remain grateful to her alma mater and live up to the reputation of Chongqing University; she would devote herself more consciously to the great cause of national rejuvenation, consolidate her ideals, study hard, forge her character, uphold innovation, and contribute her youth to the “Double-First-Rate” construction of Chongqing University to make her alma mater ever-great.
Guo Zhukun, a student representative and an undergraduate student of 2016 from the School of Civil Engineering
In the “Ever-growing Chongqing University” Chapter, Sun Yao extended warm congratulations on the 90th Anniversary of Chongqing University on behalf of the Ministry of Education as entrusted by Minister Chen Baosheng.
Sun Yao said that Chongqing University not only had excellent teachers, but has also cultivated a great number of outstanding talents. He expressed his hope that teachers and students of Chongqing University would study hard and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on education and the spirit of the important speech at the National Education Conference. He encouraged the students and teachers to make contributions to the construction of a world-first-rate university with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and make greater contributions to national innovation and development and high-level personnel training. He also called for the school alumni to continue to make efforts to support their alma mater with wisdom and make new contributions to the economic and social development of the country and the region through practical actions.
Sun Yao, vice minister and a member of the Party Group of the Ministry of Education
Tang Liangzhi said in his speech that Chongqing University, as an icon of Chongqing’s higher education, had contributed to the national construction. Chongqing University achieved lead-forward development in the integration of colleges and universities and the first-rate construction in the past 90 years since its founding. CQU had created more than ten national No. 1 academic achievements, and cultivated more than 400,000 outstanding talents of various specialties. Today, Chongqing University has become an extraordinary and well-known institution of higher learning in China.
Tang Liangzhi, mayor of Chongqing University and deputy secretary of CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee
Tang Liangzhi said that a university was founded based on the resources of the city, and the city was thriving thanks to the universities. The development of universities was always accompanied by the process of urbanization. Over the years, under the lead of previous university leaders, Secretary Zhou Xun and President Zhang Zongyi, Chongqing University had actively integrated itself into local economic and social development, made positive contributions to personnel training, scientific and technological innovation, achievement transformation, industrial development, etc., and had become the center of scientific research of Chongqing and even of west China, the cradle of talents, the pioneer to serve the society, and a place of cultural heritage and innovation. The achievements of Chongqing's economic and social development were the result of the great efforts and wisdom of family of Chongqing University, and reflected the devotions and exploring efforts of CQU teachers and students.
Tang Liangzhi added that high-quality higher education was more urgently needed now by Chongqing than ever, and so was scientific and technological innovation and high-quality talent teams. He expressed his expectation that Chongqing University would take its 90th Anniversary as an opportunity to fully implement CPC’s education policy, adhere to the socialist direction of education, fulfill the fundamental task of promoting morality and cultivating people, keep in mind its original intention and mission, take first-rate universities as the benchmark, pursue excellence, serve development and lead the future. Chongqing University should strive to improve its comprehensive competitiveness and highlight its distinctive features the “Double-First-Rate” construction, so as to play an important and significant role in Chongqing's economic and social development, and play a leading and driving role in the development of colleges and universities in Chongqing.
Zhou Xiao said on behalf of Chongqing University that CQU would adhere to the requirements of the Ministry of Education, CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and the municipal government, and stick to the guidance of Xi Jinping's socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics of the new era. The University would speed up its “Double-First-Rate” construction, characteristic construction and high quality construction, and concentrate efforts on improving education quality, in an ultimate effort to build Chongqing University into a world-first-rate university with Chinese characteristics. Chongqing University would make contributions to development of Chongqing and make even greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
At the end of the Commemoration Celebration, teachers and students played the piano donated to their alma mater by Mr. Ren Zhengfei, an outstanding alumnus and president of Huawei, and all sang the Anthem of Chongqing University. The Celebration was brought to a successful end in the solemn and affectionate anthem.
Photography: Wu Yuohua, Jiang Shuai, Li Ni, Ye Yifei, Xiang Lingni
Hou Yangyang, Wang Zhaoyu, Li Wei, Zhao Yixin, www.cqcb.com, Liu Li
