CUEB Holds Opening Ceremony for the Class of 2025
To carry forward the spirit of the War of Resistance and forge ideals and convictions, the opening ceremony for the Class of 2025 was held on September 12 at the stadium to welcome new CUEBers.
The ceremony was presided over by Ouyang Qin, Deputy Party Secretary of CUEB. Attendees included Wang Wenju, Party Secretary; Wu Weixing, Deputy Party Secretary and President; Xu Fang, Deputy Party Secretary; Yang Kui, Standing Committee Member of the School Party Committee and Vice President; Mao Baizhan, Standing Committee Member of Standing Committee of the School Party Committee and Secretary of Discipline Inspection Commission; Yin Zhichao and Yao Linxiu, Standing Committee Members of the School Party Committee Committee and Vice Presidents.
The ceremony opens with the national anthem.
Wang Wenju accepts a pledge scroll signed by all freshmen, which is presented on behalf of the Class of 2025 by Sun Jialu from the School of Statistics and Data Science.
President Wu Weixing warmly greeted new CUEBers. He mentioned that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and next year marks the 70th anniversary of CUEB’s founding. At this historic moment, students should remember history and forge ahead, linking personal growth with the nation’s destiny and contributing to national development and the university’s establishment.
Wu offered three expectations for the new generation of CUEB students:
First, uphold the virtue of advocating morality and aspire to serve the nation through economics. Guided by the spirit of revolutionary predecessors Yuan Yongxi and Zhong Fuguang, as well as academic masters Fu Zhufu and Ren Fushan, students should set lofty ambitions early, integrate personal ideals into the national development agenda, uphold integrity in the digital era, and contribute wisdom and strength to the grand blueprint of national rejuvenation.
Second, strive for excellence and devote yourselves to benefiting society. Seize the opportunities of the era, take outstanding alumni as role models, break free from fixed thinking, leverage the university’s academic resources, build a solid professional foundation, and broaden global perspectives to acquire true skills in real-world “battlefields.”
Third, embrace a broad vision and answer the call of a strong nation. Carry forward the revolutionary tradition, learn from students committed to volunteer service, serve at the grassroots, contribute to the development of the West, or join the military, and integrate the “individual self” into the “collective self,” refining character and realizing value through service to the country and the capital city.
Wu Weixing wrapped up his speech by emphasizing the importance of cherishing this prosperous era, seizing the day, living it to the full, and striving for the best outcomes. May all students, on the occasion of the university’s 70th anniversary next year, join hands with the school to witness its mission and glory, stand ready to take on responsibilities for the Chinese path to modernization, and achieve the best results for contemporary youth on the track of national rejuvenation.
Ouyang Qin, Deputy Party Secretary, presides over the ceremony.
Ma Baobin, Deputy Party Secretary and Dean of the School of Urban Economics and Public Administration, delivered a speech on behalf of the faculty. He centered his remarks on the theme “Root Downward, Grow Upward,” exploring three dimensions—What Is a University, How to Become a Person, and How to Pursue Learning—to engage in a thoughtful dialogue with the freshmen. He emphasized that a university is a home that fosters students’ spiritual growth, stressing that to achieve success, one must first become a person of character. He encouraged students to cultivate independent thinking and inner strength in the era of artificial intelligence, and called on faculty and students to move forward hand in hand—to root downward and blossom upward, to grow inward and dedicate outward—and jointly write a new chapter for CUEBers.
Zhang Jinhan, an undergraduate of the Class of 2022 from the College of Business Administration, spoke on behalf of all students. Drawing on her three years of university experience, she elaborated on three aspects—Moving Forward with the Nation, Dedicating Herself to Study, and Daring to Try—to share the rich campus life. She recounted the moving story of CUEBers enthusiastically serving and supporting the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and encouraged the freshmen to face choices with composure and surpass themselves with perseverance, striving to become light and shine light on this vibrant campus.
Wan Ziqi, an undergraduate of the Class of 2025 from Zhuoyu Academy, delivered a speech on behalf of all freshmen. Quoting the saying “Only through polishing can jade become a treasure,” she explained her shift in understanding of university— from a realm of freedom to a new starting point for growth— and urged her peers to uphold the Camel Spirit, stay grounded, and dare to practice. She encouraged fellow students to carve knowledge with curiosity, measure growth through practice, and align the future with responsibility. She also pledged to honor the university motto, cherish youth, and strive to become CUEBers of the new era with patriotism and practical ability to contribute their strength to building a stronger nation.
Liu Shiran, a 2025 graduate from the School of Economics, addressed on behalf of all graduate students. He shared how he has grown from joining student organizations as an undergraduate and his deep reflections on participating in the service work for the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. He called on his peers to “keep grounded and keep growing” during the graduate study: to delve deeply into their fields, pursue academic innovation, apply knowledge into practice, and serve society, striving to become warm-hearted, insightful, and responsible youth committed to Chinese modernization.
School leaders put the CUEB university badges on student representatives, who then affixed them to their chests together with all freshmen. The badge serves as identification for “CUEBers” and carries the history and culture of CUEB, embodying the affection of all faculty and students. The new CUEBers were encouraged to inherit the responsibility of “advocating morality, valuing competence, strategizing national development, and serving the people”, and to practice the Camel Spirit of “braving heavy burdens, advancing with perseverance, staying grounded, and embracing inclusiveness,” and make their efforts on the Chinese path to modernization.
Li Yichen from the School of Artificial Intelligence and Liu Haotian from the School of Business led all freshmen in taking a solemn oath facing the university flag.
This year, the university continued to present the Seven-Color Growth Gifts, which include “Extensive Reading,” “Endless Support,” “Tailor-Made Craftsmanship,” “Learning-and-Doing Express,” “Career Pioneer,” “Walking with the Nation,” and “Dynamic Youth,” each carrying profound meaning. Notably, 18 randomly selected “lucky students” will have university leaders serve as their mentors, receiving all-round and personalized guidance.
The Seven-Color Growth Gifts are not only thoughtful tokens but also a vivid embodiment of the university’s educational philosophy. All freshmen are encouraged to cherish these opportunities, temper their abilities, and grow into well-rounded youth in morality, intellect, physique, aesthetics, and labor on CUEB’s fertile ground.
Eighty years have passed, yet the echoes of history remain resounding. This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At the end of the ceremony, members of the CUEB Chorus who had participated in the V-Day Commemoration Ceremony, sang “Ode to the Motherland” with all new CUEBers. The sincere and sonorous melody conveyed deep love for the motherland and best wishes for its future. The ceremony drew to a successful end with powerful singing, while the revolutionary aspiration and the mission of national rejuvenation quietly took root in every freshman’s heart.
Also present at the ceremony were CUEB leaders, including Zhao Guang, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Minister of the Organization Department and the United Front Work Department; Fu Lin, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department; members of the Academic Degree Committee, heads of administrative and support departments, Party secretaries, deans, and deputy secretaries in charge of student affairs from various schools, all counselors and class advisers of freshmen, representatives of all faculty and students, and all 2025 freshmen. The ceremony was also broadcast live on CUEB’s official WeChat video account, garnering over 17,000 views, including many parents of the freshmen.