On the morning of September 24, ZHENG Xinli, Deputy Director of China Center for International Economic Exchanges and the Executive Vice-Chairman of China Urbanization Promotion Association visited Tongji University. Party Secretary of Tongji University FANG Shouen, along with Vice President JIANG Bo, met with ZHENG and his companions and held a symposium on the ‘Construction of a World-Class University.’ Directors from related departments and teacher representatives attended the meeting.

JIANG introduced the Planning Scheme of the World-Class University Construction of Tongji University, and highlighted all members of Tongji University will spare no efforts and make steady progress towards the goal of Tongji as a world-class university.

ZHENG made a speech on ‘the Innovation-Oriented University of High Quality’, in which he pointed out the key to building a technological power lies in education. He mentioned, ‘At present, the strategy of independent innovation is becoming increasingly imperative, with innovation topping the list of five notions of development. Therefore, Colleges and universities must give enough weight to scientific and technological innovation in their own development.’ To achieve the goal of establishing a word-class university, he suggested, necessitates the following five notions: firstly, there must be a clear goal ahead; secondly, social education is welcomed; thirdly, we should cultivate students with innovative ability; fourthly, there must be a group of teachers who can nurture innovative talents; and last but not least, it is necessary to establish a venture investment system. These are the elements worth considering in the construction of a world-class university.