This is a particularly exciting time for Yangzhou University (YZU). Coming off of a record-breaking year on our journey to the pinnacle of excellence , we are celebrating the 120th anniversary of the University. YZU is one of the earliest modern universities established in China and a comprehensive, research-oriented university, featuring a rich legacy in humanities, advantages in agricultural sciences, the integration of sciences and humanities, and a pluralistic development of various interdisciplines. More than 20 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) have worked or studied at the provincial key university administered directly under the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government. Now a top public research university, YZU is an economic driver of Jiangsu Province, a source of the region’s workforce and a community of faculty, staff and students committed to serving the city of Yangzhou.

    120 Years of leadership kicked off Thursday, May 19 at the theater of lotus pond campus. Faculty and students, university presidents, government leaders, and alumni from different industries and fields from around the globe attended one of the most significant events in the university's history.

    Jiao Xin’an, chair of the University Council presided over the celebration ceremony, extending cordial greetings to more than six thousand faculty and staff, more than sixty thousand students and more than six hundred thousand alumni. Impressed by the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students and alumni, Jiao said that we would be achieving these and other milestones as a collaborative community, recognizing that Yangzhou University is more than the sum of its people, and working together to make 2022 our best year ever.

    Ding Jianning, president of YZU delivered a speech calling for efforts to continuously improve talent cultivation and scientific and technological innovation.

    Zhang Junfeng, vice-president of Nanjing University  and Ding Jianning, president of YZU signed the strategic cooperation framework agreement  between two universities.

    Chen Kaihong, executive vice mayor of Yangzhou and  Ding Jianning, president of YZU signed the agreement on cooperation and co-construction  between Yangzhou and Yangzhou University.

    It was with great pleasure that many leaders sent congratulatory letters, which were read out one by one at the ceremony, including those from Li Lanqing, former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and former Vice Premier of the State Council, Hui Liangyu, former member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and former Vice Premier of the State Council, Chen Zhili, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress and former chairman of the All-China Women’s Federation, Zhang Baowen, vice-chairperson of the 12th National People’s Congress Standing Committee, Chen Zongxing, vice-chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wu Zhenglong, secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu People’s Congress. They hailed the university’s remarkable achievements in talent cultivation, scientific and technological innovation, cultural inheritance and services to the society.

    In his congratulatory letter, Wu Zhenglong said that YZU should take the 120th anniversary as a new starting point, forge ahead to become a top university with Chinese characteristics, and make greater contributions to the country’s educational development.

    Wang Rongping, vice-chairman of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference, attended the ceremony.

    Hu Jinbo, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing University, expressed warm congratulations to the 120th anniversary of Yangzhou University in his video speech.

    Zhang Baojuan, Secretary of Yangzhou Municipal Party Committee, sent her best wishes.

    Professor Zhang Hongcheng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech on behalf of all faculty.

    Wan Baonian, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an alumnus in 1982, sent his best wishes in his video speech.

    Zhang Tianyao, chairman of Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Students and an undergraduate from the Information Engineering College, spoke on behalf of all students.

    At the ceremony, congratulatory videos of cooperative foreign universities were broadcast, including those from Jane Falkingham, vice-president of University of Southampton in the UK; John O’Halloran, president of University College in Ireland; Christof Wolfmaier, president of Esslingen University in Germany; Yasunori Mitani, president of Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan; Renee Leon PSM, president of Charles Sturt University in Australia, and Chongrak Wachrinrat, president of Kasetsart University in Thailand.

    Many leaders of foreign universities sent congratulatory letters, including Bill Flanagan, president of University of Alberta in Canada; Jose Luis Cruz Rivera, president of Northern Arizona University in the US; Kenneth D. Kitts, president of University of North Alabama in the US; Renee Leon PSM, president of Charles Sturt University in Australia; Grant Chapman, associate provost for international programs of Kansas State University in the US.

    Our big birthday offers abundant opportunities to both take pride in our history and continue innovatively shaping the future.