On the morning of October 2, 2018, Huazhong Agricultural University(HZAU) celebrated its 120th anniversary in the West Gymnasium. Alumni and friends from all sectors, faculty，staff and students gathered here to celebrate the 120 years’ magnificent journey of HZAU.
Attendees are Du Zhanyuan, vice minister of Ministry of Education, Li Meng, vice minister of Ministry of Science and Technology, Yang Yunyan, vice governor of the people's government of Hubei province, Nobel laureates prof. Johann Deisenhofer and prof. Barry James Marshall, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhang Qifa, Deng Zixin, Gui Jianfang, Zhang Qingjie, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Deng Xiuxin, Liu Xu, Chen Huanchun, Chen Xuegeng, the former vice minister of Science and Technology Ministry，Han Deqian, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress and Secretary of the Party Fu Dehui, and many other alumni representatives from all over the world and guests concerning about the development of HZAU，and Gao Chi, Party secretary of the university, presided over the celebration.
At 9 o'clock, many alumni, teachers and students inside and outside the West Gymnasium reunited and exchanged greetings .
At 10 o'clock, the celebration began with the National Anthem. 120 freshmen payed tribute to the HZAU predecessors by presenting flowers to 120 senior alumni and faculty.
Academician Deng Xiuxin, President of HZAU delivered the speech. He made an overall review of 120 years’ history. He pointed out that over the past 120 years , HZAU was born for national salvation, and developed with the founding of new China and gathered greater strength since reform and opening up, and made important contribution to the development of China's higher education, especially the higher agricultural education. The growth history of HZAU is as magnificent as an epic which spiritually nourish Chinese alumni around the world. Over the past 120 years, " industrious in learning, vigorous in practice, eminent in society and inspirational in life " was kept as motto spirit of HZAU, and it is the spiritual and cultural strength to unite the alumni at home and abroad, the internal driving force for high-quality connotational development with the school's characteristics.
Deng comprehensively summarized the 40 years‘ achievements since reform and opening up. He pointed out that during the past 40 years, the school actively had been involved in the magnificent times, and taken the path of strengthening the school with the connotational development and the pursuit of excellence, and made achievements in personnel training, scientific research, social services, cultural inheritance and innovation, international exchanges and cooperation, etc. The university took a path to upgrade traditional agriculture disciplines through modern biological technology. In the past 10 years since 2008, the school has been focusing on characteristic and connotation development, implementing the "three-step" development strategy, further strengthening its advantages and highlighting its specialties.
By reviewing the school-running experience since reform and opening up, Deng said, we have understood deeply that the school should always adhere to the overall leadership of CPC and socialist direction of running school, insist on moral values education and talent cultivation, push forward the characteristic and the connotation development, power the school with talents and technology, and adhere to carry forward the " industrious in learning, vigorous in practice, eminent in society and inspirational in life " as the core spirit of HZAU.
Deng indicated that socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and pushed education modernization and agricultural and rural modernization into a new stage, which has brought new requirements and new opportunities for school development. We should further enhance the "four awareness", adhere to the "four confidence", conduct the "four services", unswervingly follow the path of characteristic and connotation development to compose a glorious chapter. We have the determination and confidence to build HZAU into a world-renowned research university with first-class competitive disciplines and distinctive features by the time of realization of the "two centenary" goals, namely the 150th anniversary of our university, thus building our university into a world-class university.
In order to reach this goal, Deng said, “we will insist on moral education and people cultivation, promote characteristic development and build first-class disciplines. We should cultivate the talents and build excellent faculty, strengthen our university through science and technology to improve our capacity for independent innovation. We should deepen international cooperation and exchanges and promote comprehensive reform to improve governance. Standing at the starting point of the 120th anniversary, we should have a broader vision and a better sense of responsibility. We should educate for the prosperity of our country, study for the rejuvenation of Chinese nation, strive for the inheritance of human civilization, and march forward courageously in the new journey of building HZAU into a world-class university.”
Yang Yunyan, vice governor of Hubei province, extended warm congratulations to all the attendees on behalf of the provincial party committee and government. He pointed out that over the past 120 years, HZAU people have never forgotten their original intention of " agriculture serves as a pillar industry for the country ", adhered to the tradition of being industrious in learning, and made important contribution to China's agricultural scientific and technological progress, rural development and increasing income of rural residents. He sincerely hoped that HZAU would take the opportunity of the 120th anniversary of its foundation to pass the torch on from generation to generation, and make a new leap in the process of building itself into a first-class university with first-class competitive discipline.
Sun Qixin, President of China Agricultural University, extended sincere congratulations to allthe teachers, students and alumni of HZAU. He pointed out that HZAU has made remarkable contribution to the development of China's higher agriculture education, the development of China's agriculture and the progress of agricultural science and technology. CAU and HZAU have a long-term, close cooperative relationship, and will continue to work together for mutual development.
Chen Guoqiang and Luo Weiguo addressed the ceremony, two graduates respectively from Agricultural and Forest Economy management department in 1984 and Ornamental Horticulture department in 1994.They talked on the theme of "what did HZAU teach me" . Cheng Guoqiang said that his college years at HZAU not only taught him to seek truth, be pragmatic and perseverant in the pursuit of knowledge, but also fostered a broad and inclusive international outlook, which would benefit him throughout his life. According to Luo Weiguo, the school not only imparts professional knowledge, but more importantly edifies the pursuit of social responsibility. The excellent culture of his alma mater is the "secret weapon" for his success in starting a business.
Professor Fu Tingdong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, gave a review of the school reform and development that he had experienced. Over the past 60 years, he said, the school has changed dramatically and it was a great honor for him to participate in and witness this great historical process. HZAU has cultivated and shaped him, so he was willing to continue to strive for the progress of our country and school in the future.
Student representative Li Shuyan, senior student majoring in Life Science &Technology, delivered a speech. She said that in her mind, HZAU is a truth-seeking university full of humanistic and artistic pursuits. She would inherit the spirit of HZAU and dedicate her wisdom and strength to the school, agriculture and the country.
The 9th Alumni Congress launched the Flag Relay named "Flags travel around the world ", which lasted 128 days. Today, all school flags arrived in HZAU and were delivered in the venue. All the guests waved the colorful flags together and witnessed that president of Wuhan alumni association Zhang Weiyuan handed the School Flag to President Deng Xiuxin.
The celebration ended joyfully with the school song.
Source: http://news.hzau.edu.cn/2018/1002/52783.shtml
Translated by Li Shuhan
Supervised by Guo Haiyan
