Xi congratulates Tianjin University

President Xi Jinping has extended his congratulations to the faculty, students and alumni of Tianjin University on the 130th anniversary of the founding of China's first modern university.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, conveyed his congratulations in a reply dated Tuesday to a letter from all the faculty and students of the university.

Xi described the anniversary as a new starting point for the university, and called on its faculty and students to focus on major national strategic needs.

He expressed his hope that they will deepen reforms in teaching and scientific research, strengthen basic research, and achieve greater breakthroughs in science and technology.

Xi also urged them to improve the quality of talent development and contribute to the country's efforts to build a strong educational system, enhance scientific and technological strength, and advance Chinese modernization.

Tianjin University, which was founded in 1895 as Peiyang University, adopted its current name in 1951.

The university, with about 40,000 full-time students and more than 4,800 faculty and staff members, is known for its specialties in engineering.

Recently, the university's faculty and students wrote a letter to Xi, reporting the university's development over the 130 years and its achievements in recent years.

They also expressed their determination to cultivate talent independently and achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

Xi's reply was received with great enthusiasm by the university's faculty and students.

Yang Xianjin, Party secretary of Tianjin University, said the reply was inspiring and encouraging, adding that it has provided fundamental guidance for the university's efforts to build itself into a world-class university.

Liu Congqiang, dean of the School of Earth System Science, said the reply contains strategic guidance for scientific and technological innovation in the new era.

"We feel deeply honored and are deeply aware of the great responsibility we shoulder," Liu said.

The school will work to better align its basic research efforts with the country's major needs, such as those for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, and contribute to the country's efforts to cultivate new quality productive forces, Liu said.

Qi Dehao, a student in the School of Precision Instrument and Opto-Electronics Engineering, said, "In this era, only innovators advance, only innovators become strong, and only innovators win."

"We will bravely climb the peaks of technology and take the lead in overcoming technological 'stranglehold', contributing our youthful energy to the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," Qi said.

Tan Lak Hon, an international student from Malaysia, said that during his three years at Tianjin University, he has gained not only extensive knowledge, but also many unforgettable experiences and memories.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, and last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Tianjin University.

"These two significant events have converged during my youth, strengthening my future direction — to integrate personal growth into the progress of the times, to transform cross-cultural exchanges into bridges and bonds, and to tell the story of Malaysia-China friendship," he said.