In order to conscientiously implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, promote a coordinated development among different regions, revitalize higher education in the central and western regions, and accelerate the construction of a high-quality education system in the new era, the agreement signing ceremony of China Agricultural University’s counterpart support for Xichang University was held in the International Conference Center of Qionghai Hotel on the afternoon of July 24th. Zhong Denghua, Party Secretary of China Agricultural University and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Tian Jianhui, member of Party Standing Committee and Vice President of China Agricultural University, Ashi Labi, Deputy Party Secretary and Governor of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Peng Zhengsong, Party Secretary of Xichang University, Zhu Zhanyuan, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Xichang University, and other leaders of XCU attended the signing ceremony. Mr. Chen Chaoxian, Member of Sichuan Education Working Committee, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Sichuan Department of Education, presided over the signing ceremony.

President Zhu Zhanyuan briefed on the basic information of XCU--a new applied undergraduate college located in ethnic area with a long history and a wide range of disciplines. This university has made noticeable achievements in the following four respects in recent years: constructing a high-level faculty by training teachers and enrolling talents, improving quality education of application-oriented students, encouraging academic and scientific researches, and reinforcing infrastructure construction.   

Prefecture Governor Ashi Labi said that China Agricultural University have long offered strong support and help to Liangshan to achieve poverty alleviation and accelerate comprehensive rural revitalization. XCU is the only comprehensive undergraduate college in Liangshan, and he hopes that XCU takes the signing of this agreement as an opportunity to coordinate and connect with CAU for its system optimization, policy refinement, disciplinary construction, faculty development, talent cultivation, academic research and community service, so the initiative of counterpart support can exert its full functions. Meanwhile, he wishes CAU can further participate in the developing cause of Liangshan’s agriculture, rural areas and farmers, enhance mutual cooperation and provide support in regard to scientific research, technology, and talents introduction.

Zhong Denghua, Party Secretary of CAU, recalled the historical origin of CAU’s concern and support for the development of XCU, and said that Liangshan is a place that President Xi Jinping is deeply concerned about, and the counterpart support work is of great significance. CAU will resolutely implement the deployment of the Ministry of Education by promoting the counterpart support with a strengthened systematic awareness, clarified goal and integrated manner. Taking XCU’s actual needs into consideration, CAU will focus on pushing XCU to a higher level through far-sighted planning, high standardized implementation and efficient promotion in the hope that XCU could become a first-rate applied university with distinctive features and high level, who is able to produce talents independently. In addition, CAU will innovate the counterpart support mechanism and give full play to the advantageous disciplines and national and provincial projects from both universities to make breakthroughs in corresponding fields. CAU determines to ensure a concrete result for the counterpart support initiative, contributing to the projects of the “Second Granary in Tianfu” and “Strengthen Liangshan with Agriculture”.

XCU Party Secretary Peng Zhengsong expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Education, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Sichuan Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Government, the Provincial Department of Education, Liangshan Party Committee and Government for their strong support and assistance to XCU. He said that XCU will take advantage of the projects of “accelerating the revitalization of higher education in the central and western regions” and “counterpart support”, fully implementing the Party’s education policy and the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education and providing high-caliber talent training and quality local services. In addition, XCU will commit itself to the construction of a first-rate applied college with distinctive features of solid education, strong faculty, distinguishing reputation and jointed efforts.

Leaders of relevant departments and offices from China Agricultural University, Sichuan Department of Education and Xichang University also attended the signing ceremony.

By Li Haomiao, XCU University and Local Government Cooperation Office

Photo by Xu Jianming, Liangshan Daily