As we conclude the past year and welcome the new, we would like to extend the warmest wishes, on behalf of the Party Committee and the administration of the University, to our current students and faculty members, retired faculty and staff, domestic and overseas alumni, and friends who joined our endeavors and continue to support Sun Yat-sen University.

In 2013, Sun Yat-sen University has made remarkable progress in building a world-class university, and it is a year of dedication to teaching, students and learning, and of solidarity and striving. In this past year, the University unswervingly adhered to the socialist cause of running universities, deepened our reforms on all fronts and kept developing. Our structuring of disciplines has shown its features, and our ability of innovation and level of social services have been increased. We attracted scholars from the international community, encouraged our own professors to go overseas, explored new modes of international cooperation, generated great ideas and advanced technologies. Our students have received innovative high-quality education; and our graduates, excellent in character and learning, have marched to their future with confidence. Through the university-wide “mass line” education campaign, Party members became more connected to teachers and students, firmer in their faith, more practical in their work style, and better at meeting challenges. Our achievements are hard won and our difficulties are many. In the past year, many unforgettable memories and delightful changes have moved and inspired us. They remind us to continue our quest, exploration and practice of the quintessence of a university.

The coming year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of Sun Yat-sen University. This is an occasion worthy of remembrance and celebration. Ninety years ago, Dr. Sun Yat-sen founded this University, making a promise and setting out a vision to our people of a strong and educated country. This is the ideal to which Sun Yat-sen University has been adhering ever since. Through efforts of generations of the SYSU community, this ideal has come true. Our efforts have been written into history and have contributed to the construction of our country and the improvement of people’s lives. Our ideal brings us confidence and strength, but we must see that we are still halfway on our journey. We must take up our responsibilities, help and encourage each other, demonstrate our abilities and perform our duties. We must “go global” with broader visions and work together to steer the ship of SYSU to great oceans, make contributions to the realization of the “Chinese Dream” and the advancement of human civilization. To turn the blueprint to reality and build a world-class university require us to face up to our challenges, unite all our efforts and work even harder. Our minds are fixed on our goal and we shall lose no time. Let us join hands and strive forward to build a more beautiful campus and a better university.

We wish all faculty, students, and friends a very Happy New Year!

Secretary ZHENG Detao    President XU Ningsheng