Xie Heping’s Speech on the Ceremony of the 110th Anniversary of Sichuan University
Honored leaders, distinguished guests and alumni, dear teachers and students, Today, on the 110th anniversary of Sichuan University, we merrily gather here for witneing her glorious past records, appreciating her sincere history and youth and vigor and wishing her better and brilliant future.On behalf of the hundred thousands of teachers, students and workers, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all the leaders and guests present here today, send my best wishes to alumni both at home and abroad, and expre my heartfelt gratitude towards leaders at all levels, friends from all walks of life, and all of our international friends for your constant regard and support.Given a speech as the principal of SCU, it is not only a high honor for me, but also more means responsibility and miion.Therefore, I expreed my own truth inspiration for her long history and the heroic feelings of all the members of SCU for our construction of the new Sichuan University and recreation of the refulgence again.The life of the university is determined by the spirit of the university.It is also the origin of the university’s persistent vigor and youth.Reviewing the history of SCU, we can feel its spirit and rationality.The rising of SCU from viciitudes to succe attributes substantially to the SCU Spirit, the incorporative and eclectic nature and the university motto “Advocating Precision, Diligence, Truth and Innovation”.According to the former headmasters’ insightful summary and deep thinking, SCU always contains a constant and a direct line of succeion value orientation.That is the grand verve of including all substances in the world, the lofty realm of pursuit of the truth and the feelings of serving our motherland.Such as: Hu Jun’s “Creating wealth and cultivating talents for the country” from 1903 to 1909; Wu Yuzhang’s “Advocating science, supporting new scholars” from 1922 to 1924; Zhang Lan’s “Thoughts freedom and all-inclusive” from 1926 to 1930; Zhang Linggao’s “Cultivating noble character, teaching advanced academic, bringing up specialized talents, matching social development’s needs” from 1933 to 1946.This kind of value orientation shows our attitude toward science and our pursuit of the social responsibility and dream.It also constitutes the spirit connotation and cultural eence of SCU from generation to generation.Nowadays, SCU puts forward the idea of “Advocating science, pursuit of excellence” and “Being virtuous and erudite, with an open mind from good”, also inherits and carries forward the traditional spirit of SCU.At this solemn moment of looking back at history and moving forward the future, I recall the paage which the State Councillor Chen Zhili has said in the third forum of the president of the university not long ago.She said: The university presidents should unswervingly guard university spirit so that university can influence and be a guide for society in innovation and service by its advanced thought and character and making \"university\" honor promote and have eternal glory.This speech makes me further comprehend, what SCU’s history has left us the most precious wealth is her spirit and culture.As the president, I not only have the responsibility to keep watch our spiritual home, but also spare no effort to go to carry forward our university spirit, and make both of SCU’s spirit and all Chinese university spirits be the lighthouse to lead the society’s development.The first duty of university is the cultivation of talent.If university wants to be approved by society, it has to cultivate the talent for matching the society’s needs.This is the important measure standard to judge university’s contribution for society.SCU was born with the historical background of saving nation by education, imputing world’s knowledge, creating modern wisdom, developing scientific culture and cultivating outstanding talent are the unswerving ideal and pursuit of SCU.In China’s high education history, especially the western area, SCU has written its glorious chapter and has created many first.In 1911, SCU established China’s western synergistic dental hospital, began China’s modern oral medicine and education and become the birthplace of China\'s modern oral medicine.In 1936, SCU began to enroll graduates and became one of the universities which firstly enroll graduates in China.In 1953, SCU created the first polymer profeional and achieved the first doctor conferrable spot of science of religion among China’s universities in 1992.In the western area, SCU established the first modern physical education system in 1906, firstly implemented the modern general education in 1910 and introduced foreign teachers in the same year, founded English courses firstly in 1914, etc.During the 110 years, SCU succeively gathered the writer Li Jieren, physicist Wu Daqiu, biologist Tong Dizhou, historian Gu Jiegang, philosopher Feng Youlan, aesthetician Zhu Guangqian, China\'s most distinguished botanist Fang Wenpei, public health originator Chen Zhiqian, the founder of the theory of number in modern China Ke Zhao and China’s polymer disciplines founder Xu Xi, etc.These masters has trained a lot of excellent talents, and affected many people\'s character by their good moral character.In history, commander Zhu De who was the student of SCU has become one of the founders of the people’s republic of China; Guo Moruo, Ba Jin were the literary masters; Jiang Zhuyun, Mao Yingcai were hero who has moved China and the whole world; the first female doctor Le Yicheng became the pioneer of the Chinese modern obstetrics and gynecology.Today, alumni Song Yonghua who entered in SCU in 1984, was elected to be the first academician, among the Chinese who lives in the United Kingdom, of the Royal Academy of Engineering and became vice-chancellor of the Brunel University.In 2003, students of SCU won the international busine management challenge (GMC) global champion.Only from 2003 to 2005, our students won national special prize 19, the first prize 32, the second prize 90 and the third prize almost 200 in the all kinds of national knowledge and science and technology competitions.Whether in the past or now, whether in the revolution, the construction or in the scientific and culture history, we can find the figure of the people of SCU, see the name of them and feel their loyalty and dedication to the country, the nation and the society.
The motivation of universities’ development relies on reform, keeping pace with and bravely walking in the forefront of the times.The history of 110-years development of SCU is the record of its constant development, growing and creating glory during its reform.In 1994, the original Sichuan University and the original Chengdu University of Science and Technology caught the opportunity and took the “powerful combination” and opened the key of China’s university reform with the courage of “take the lead”.Then, in 2000, the new SCU combined with the original West China Medical University and achieved a much more strong unity.The twice combinations have provided abundant capital and solid foundation for universities’ high level comprehensive research.With this basis, we have opened a new page of SCU’s development for a very few years, by the condensed strength, the integration of resources, innovative thinking, the transformation of development way and the improvement of development state.On today’s special festive occasion, I would like to avail myself this opportunity to introduce the remarkable changes that’s taking place in SCU to all of you.Sichuan University has become one of the top-ranking China\'s universities with complete subjects, the largest scale and the best quality and benefit.The number of doctor conferrable spots for first level discipline from 12 in 2000 increased to now 27 and among the top-4 of national universities; doctoral program increased from 65 to 213, master degree program increased from 135 to 330 and ranking 6th and 3rd among the national universities respectively.All of these have realized the important index of increasing several times over for the discipline construction.At the same time, the teaching level and quality has obviously improved.In 2005, we attained two first prizes of the state level teaching achievement prize and nine second prizes, in the forefront of the university.SCU’s scientific research has made great-leap-forward development.From 2000 to 2005, during the five years, scientific research funds rose from 172 million yuan to 701.5 million yuan, nearly 5 times growth; the number of “State Three Awards” achievements increased from 3 to 15 and improved five levels; the number of science and technology and social science research achievements of ministerial or provincial level added from 36 to 401 with 10 times growth.And in the past three years, we have taken three “zero” breakthrough of the academician, the national key laboratory and the chief scientist of “973” project in the field of medicine domain.
SCU’s faculty level has improved significantly.From 2000 to now, the number of the academicians increased from 5 to 9; Chang Jiang (Cheung Kong) Scholars increased from 6 to 16, and the gainers of the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China increased from 9 to 30.Especially, in the past two years, during the construction of the second phase platform of “985 project”, we have introduced more than 30 outstanding young and middle-aged scientists, including three non-Chinese scientists, from MIT, Yale, Hopkins and other world cla universities.So to speak, SCU ushered in another boom period with elites and talents coming out in succeion.SCU’s international education has stepped on a new stage.We have established the communicative and cooperative relationship with 42 countries and regions and more than 130 universities or research institutions.Today, we will inaugurate three international scientific research cooperation platforms with the university of California, Arizona State University and Clausthal University of Germany.It not only offers a gift for the anniversary, but also marks the SCU has started to jointly promote the prosperity and development of the high education with the world famous universities hand in hand on a higher level and broader areas.Facing SCU’s 110-year hard struggle, we can proudly say that whether in the past or now, Sichuan University always has not lived up to the era’s looking forward, nation’s hope and people\'s great trust.For the future, SCU will be better to serve the people and the nation with greater achievements.The honor of SCU should be attributed to the party, the country and the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the state council.The Party Central Committee\'s \"joint construction, adjustment, cooperation, merger\" policy leads the reform and development of SCU.SCU’s achievements also fully demonstrate the succe and glory of China\'s contemporary high education system reform.We will never forget the five times visits of comrade Li Lanqing, his effort, wisdom for SCU’s combination reform, name determination and the closing of 93 road and his reflected grand verve.We will never forget the impreive night on November, 3rd, 1997.On that night, Secretary of the Party Committee of the State Education Commiion, Chen Zhili comrade visited the campus deeply.We also will never forget her guidance and spur, and her six times visits.The honor of SCU should be attributed to the Party Committee of SEC, the leadership and support of Sichuan Province and Chengdu.They have visited and inspected SCU for many times and fully implemented many concrete measures for “both development of the province and the city”, to ensure the policy environment and guaranteed equipment and the provided great support for the development of SCU.The honor of SCU should be attributed to all previous leaders of SCU and all teachers and student.Today’s accumulated valuable spiritual wealth and solid material foundation came from the all previous leaders’ hard struggle and exploration practice.Today’s succe came from the hard work, strive and dedication of our teachers and students.The honor of SCU should be attributed to all alumni at home and abroad.The brand of the university is forged and cast by all alumni.When you are devoted to the construction of the society, take your pursuit of the life and career or do your ordinary works, all alumni constantly promote SCU’s spirit, honor SCU and inject vigor and vitality to your mother school.It will always feel infinite glory and pride for you.The honor of SCU should be attributed to all sectors of the society which concern and support us.Today\'s world is an open world.University only can achieve more developmental opportunities through the interaction with the society.In reverse, only with the understanding and support of the society, we can get wider development space.SCU’s development and succe cannot do without the trust, concern and support of all sectors of the society.Honored leaders, distinguished guests and alumni, dear teachers and students, the meaning of anniversary is reviewing the past and the present, eventually is the new start for a better future.In 1930s, the principal of SCU put forward: Not only making SCU become the best university in China, but also let it be the most famous and complete university in the world.If we regarded it as a dream at that time, now, we have the basis for letting it come true through the hard-working of generations, especially, the hard-working after the two combinations.On behalf of the faculty and students, I’d like to take a solemn oath on this historical occasion: under the leadership of CPC chaired by President Hu, and under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theories and Three Representatives, SCU would continue to practice the scientific concept of development, adhere to the conception of “Scientific development, key progre, nurturing talents and anticipating society” and take efforts to establish SCU as a top-notched innovative university, a research-based university cultivating pillars and elites, an open university embracing diversified academic thinking and advanced culture, a comprehensive university safeguarding academic consciousne, spreading university spirit, pursuing lofty goals and social progre.We firmly believe that the ideal tree, we planted today, will certainly have countle rich fruits, the dream of hope, we released today, will certainly become a beautiful reality!
四川大学校长谢和平院士在庆祝四川大学建校110周年大会上的致辞
