To thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply to young scholars returning from studying abroad at Nanjing University, a symposium was held at the Xianlin campus of NJU on May 20, 2026. Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Ademician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), attended the symposium and delivered a speech. Tan Zhemin, President of NJU and also Academician of the CAS, chaired the symposium.
Tan Tieniu stated that on May 18, four years ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping replied to the young scholars returning from studying abroad at our university. This was not only a tremendous encouragement for all teachers and students at NJU, but also a significant boost for the university's educational and administrative endeavors. As we are celebrating the 124th anniversary of NJU, it is the right time to revisit the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply, share our learning experiences, and examine our work outcomes, so as to further clarify our direction of progress and better unite efforts and accelerate the construction of a world-class NJU with Chinese characteristics.
Tan Tieniu pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply is visionary and rich in content. We must learn, reflect, understand, and advance continuously. We should deeply appreciate General Secretary Xi Jinping's high regard for education, his care and concern for youth, his earnest expectations for NJU, and the practical power of his important reply. He noted that over the past four years, all teachers and students at NJU have deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply, vigorously promoting the glorious tradition of serving the country through studying abroad. The formulation and implementation of the "Forging Ahead Initiative" has served as a comprehensive approach to implement the spirit of the General Secretary's important reply, leading to new breakthroughs and progress in the university's high-quality development.
Tan Tieniu put forward requirements for further implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply and emphasized that we should fully leverage our university's strengths in philosophy and social sciences, innovatively promote the construction of an independent knowledge system in Chinese philosophy and social sciences, further strengthen cultural confidence and awareness, tell China's story well, and present a more authentic, three-dimensional, and comprehensive image of China on the international stage. This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and the university's Party committee will continue to care for and support young scholars returning from studying abroad and students studying abroad, making efforts to build growth platforms, smooth development channels, create a comfortable environment, and address concerns. He called on all faculty and students at NJU to always remember General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, consciously pursue serving the country and the people, and contribute new and greater efforts to accelerate the construction of a world-class NJU with Chinese characteristics and to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong nation and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
Tan Zhemin chaired the symposium.
Representatives of young scholars returning from studying abroad who wrote to General Secretary Xi Jinping, including Zhu Jia, Dean of the School of Sustainable Energy and Resources; Liu Ying, Professor at the School of Chemistry; and Li Wei, Professor at the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, successively spoke, sharing how they integrated their research into the national development tide, deeply studied and implemented the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply, and reported on their practical achievements in talent cultivation, achievement transformation, discipline construction, and scientific research.
Young scholars who have recently joined the university, including Fang Yuqi, Associate Professor at the School of Intelligence Science and Technology; Jiang Xinhui, Assistant Professor at the School of Government; and Dai Xiaoming, Associate Professor at the Modern Biology Research Institute, shared their insights and work achievements since joining NJU, as well as specific outcomes of their learning and implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important reply.
Undergraduate students Wang Zhuxi from the School of Life Sciences and Zhou Xuanyu from the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who are about to study abroad, represented the graduates. They reported on their learning experiences during their time at the university and their original intentions for studying abroad, expressing their commitment to always remember General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, promote the glorious tradition of serving the country through studying abroad at NJU, and return home as soon as they complete their studies to serve the country and the people.
Representatives from the university's administrative departments, including Wen Yu, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC NJU Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; Li Hao, Director of the Student Affairs Department; Wu Di, Dean of the Office of Science and Technology; and Miao Feng, Director of the Human Resources Office, spoke based on their department's main responsibilities, reporting on NJU's achievements and progress over the past four years in areas such as publicity and cultural work, the fundamental task of fostering virtue and cultivating talent, research and innovation progress, and talent and personnel work.
This meeting also had a branch venue at the Suzhou campus. Members of the university's Party and administrative leadership attended the meeting, along with heads of relevant units, main leaders from various schools, representatives of young scholars returning from studying abroad, and student representatives participated in the symposium.
