Tsinghua University held an opening ceremony to welcome its incoming undergraduates on August 15. More than 3,000 undergraduates embarked on a new journey at Tsinghua in 2024.
The opening ceremony
Leaders of the University attended the ceremony. Tsinghua Vice President Peng Gang presided over the ceremony. Qiu Yong, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, delivered the first class to the new undergraduate students
Qiu Yong (right) pins a Tsinghua badge for a new student representative.
At the opening ceremony, a special segment featured the presentation of Tsinghua University badges to new students. Qiu Yong pinned a Tsinghua badge for an undergraduate student representative.
Li Luming addresses the ceremony.
Tsinghua University President delivered a speech. In his remarks, Tsinghua University President Li Luming extended his heartfelt congratulations and warm welcome to incoming freshmen on behalf of teachers, students, and staff. He said that as students of Tsinghua University in the new era, they are at a crucial juncture in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Therefore, they must establish themselves with strong moral character, broaden their horizons and outlook on life, help others, and make the most of their youth. It takes strong moral character to be forgiving of others while being strict with oneself. By being disciplined, accepting others, ready to learn from others' strengths, and skilled at making amends for their own shortcomings, Li hopes that the freshmen will contribute to the creation of a harmonious, inclusive, and positive society.
Having a strong moral character also necessitates a broad mindset—interacting with others openly and without reservations. Li hopes the freshmen will have the virtues of generosity, consistency in words and deeds, fearlessness and selflessness, purity and transparency, and a sincere sense of patriotism at all times.
With morality as the foundation and talent held to be of importance, only those who excel in both virtue and ability can shoulder great responsibilities. Li hopes the freshmen will cultivate their character and enhance their abilities, striving to excel in both ideological and professional aspects, achieving well-rounded development, and becoming socialist builders and successors with ideals, skills, and a sense of responsibility.
Li Luming encourages the freshmen to actively participate in the great cause of building a great country and rejuvenating the nation, allowing their youth to blossom brilliantly in the pursuit of progress for the country, the nation, the people, and humanity.
Liang Xidong delivers a speech.
Professor Liang Xidong from the Department of Electrical Engineering and dean of Tsinghua’s Weiyang College, on behalf of all the faculty members, delivered a speech encouraging students to actively communicate and engage with their teachers, carry forward Tsinghua's fine traditions, and align their personal growth with the nation's development.
Zhong Tianyu delivers a speech.
Zhong Tianyu, president of the Tsinghua Student Union, reflected on his four years of university life. He reminisced about the precious friendships, excellent academic atmosphere, and sincere patriotism that left the deepest impression on him. He encouraged the freshmen to embody genuine sincerity in their interactions, uphold integrity in their studies, and pursue pure dedication in their careers.
Shen Chenxin delivers a speech.
Shen Chenxin, a freshman representative and a student of Tsinghua’s Xinya College, shared his growth experience and feelings about coming to the Tsinghua campus. He aims to carrying forward Tsinghua’s spirit of patriotism, dedication, and pursuit of excellence in the coming years of his university life, contributing to the building of a great country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The first class in the new term
Following the ceremony, Qiu Yong delivered the first class of the semester for the 2024 undergraduate students on the theme of "Establishing ambitious ideals, continuing glorious traditions, and contributing youthful strength to the building a modern socialist country in an all-round way."
Qiu Yong delivers the first class to freshmen.
Qiu Yong extended a warm welcome to the new undergraduate students on behalf of the University. He noted that the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made systematic strategic plans for further deepening reforms and advancing the Chinese path to modernization, providing direction for the development of the Party and the country. As we embarked on a new journey, the University convened meetings to deeply study, promote, and implement the spirit of the session. The University aims to align closely with national strategic needs and meticulously plan major reform measures to advance its pursuit of high-quality development.
"The mission of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese path to modernization falls upon the new generation of Chinese youth. It is a prosperous era for youth, and it is the right time to strive." Qiu Yong emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, an era full of hope and challenge. As students are at a new stage in their lives and at an important moment in the development of Tsinghua University, they should consciously align their personal growth into the country's development and become witnesses, pioneers, and builders of the new era.
Qiu Yong reviewed Tsinghua’s history of more than a century, and emphasized that Tsinghua University has always been in sync with the times and the country since its inception. Ahead of the 110th anniversary of the founding of the University, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the University and fully affirmed Tsinghua’s achievements and excellent traditions over the past century. Qiu Yong pointed out that Tsinghua will keep in mind the instructions, seize the opportunity, adhere to the principle that "first-class undergraduate education is the foundation of a first-class university," and strive to open up a new situation of high-quality development for world-class universities with Chinese characteristics.
As the students are about to embark on a new journey in Tsinghua University, Qiu Yong expressed his hope that they would inherit the University motto of "Self-discipline and Social Commitment", practice the school spirit of "Actions Speak Louder Than Words," carry forward the spirit of patriotism, dedication, and pursuit of excellence, and become qualified Tsinghua people. He encouraged the students to keep in mind President Xi Jinping’s instructions, live up to their youth, write a magnificent chapter in their lives in this great era, and contribute their youthful strength to building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
Related department, school and college heads, award-winning faculty representatives, and newly appointed faculty members attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony is also broadcasted online through the "Rain Classroom" platform. Besides the main venue at the University Gymnasium, 10 venues were set up across campus.
Editor: Li Han
