Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Delivers Speech at Tsinghua

Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday called on students and faculty of China's top University, Tsinghua, to pass down its fine traditions and to contribute to China's modernization.

In a speech delivered in a university auditorium, Wen asked them to work hard, promote integrity and become dedicated to public interests.

The premier urged students to strengthen moral training, and embrace the university motto of "self-discipline and social commitment."

In the speech, Wen spoke highly of the university's contributions to the nation.

Prior to his address, Wen paid visits to university labs and an exhibition on Tsinghua's history. During these appointments, he encouraged students to have innovative thinking.

Originally founded in 1911 as a training school for students seeking to study abroad, Tsinghua is known for training large numbers of scientists and engineers.

Nobel Prize winners Lee Tsung-dao, Yang Chen-ning and Lee Yuan-tseh graduated from the university. A total of 471 professional Chinese academicians have worked or studied at Tsinghua.

Aside from its excellence in academia, Tsinghua has also become known for training tens of thousands of capable and politically minded graduates in the course of building the nation after 1949.

Photo by Guo Haijun and Yu Zhifei