Sun Yat-sen University is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the academic institution, to mark the occasion. Our reporter Guo Tianqi reports from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Sun Yat-sen University was founded in 1924, by and named after Sun Yat-sen, the great pioneer of China's democratic revolution. During its century-long history, the university has cultivated over 800,000 professionals across various fields. Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter was read out at a gathering commemorating the university's centennial anniversary. He said the university should step up efforts to build itself into a world-class university with Chinese characteristics, contributing significantly to the advancement of Chinese modernization.

WANG JIAHONG, Student, Department of Philosophy, Sun Yat-sen University "The congratulatory letter is a guide to the development direction of our university and has brought me great encouragement. I'm majoring in Philosophy. In the future, I will continue to combine theory and practice and devote myself to responding to the major needs of society and the times."

YAN JIALING, Student, School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University "The centennial spirit of our university is to serve society and the country. I am deeply inspired by the deeds of the alumni. I would like to devote myself to rural revitalization and working in the countryside after graduation."

President Xi also urged the university to align its development with major national strategies and the needs of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

CHENG XIAO, Head, Office of Scientific Research and Development, Sun Yat-sen University "Our university has fully considered the needs of the economic and industrial development of the Greater Bay Area. We offer 'new engineering' majors at our Shenzhen campus, such as artificial intelligence, and promote deep sea and polar research at the Zhuhai Campus. We are the first university in the Chinese Mainland to set up a research institute in Hong Kong to promote academic exchanges and cooperation in the Greater Bay Area."

GUO TIANQI, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province "Sun Yat-sen led the 1911 Revolution that ultimately ended feudal rule in China. And for a century, students and alumni have long been inspired by his achievements, looking to carry on his contributions to society. GUO TIANQI, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province."

Link to the report: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-11-14/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDgxNzkw/index.html