On Oct. 26, the forum for Commemorating 65 Anniversary of Mr. Rong Desheng Founding Jiangnan University was held at Room 305 in the Administration Building of JU. It’s come off to recall the great efforts by Mr. Rong Desheng as well as three generations of the Rong family for establishing Jiangnan University (JU) and their contributions to wuxi’s educational cause, appreciate their noble sentiment called “Flourishing Education and Nourishing Talents to Contribute Hometown”, review features and achievements of JU through 65 years’ development, demonstrate the distinct spirit of JU’s alumni, and educate and encourage all the JU people. A lot of prominent figures were at the forum, such as Mr. Deng hongxun, former Deputy Director of Development Research Center of the State Council, Mr. Xue Hanmin, former Director of Policy research Office of Wuxi Municipal government and also former President of Alumni Association of JU, and Mr. Lei Huanwen, former Vice Chairman of Wuxi C.P.P.C.C and also former Director of United Front Work Department of Wuxi Government, as well as former leaders of JU including Mr. Jian Dajun, Mr. Weng Shoulin and Mr. Cheng Zhixiang. Many JU leaders, including Wu Guilong, Chancellor of JU, Wang Wu, President of Jiangnan University Education Development Foundation, and directors of some relative departments, together with teachers and students representatives, also attended the forum. Furthermore, the forum also saw the attendance of the representatives designated by the author ofthe History of Jiangnan University.

The forum proceeded as follows:

Firstly, Vice President Xu Yan, as a host, read out a special congratulation letter for the forum written by Mr. Rong Zhijian.

Secondly, Mr. Jian Dajun, former Chancellor of JU, presented a bookthe History of Jiangnan Universityto Mr. Xue Hanming as a gift.

Thirdly, Mr. Xue Hanming briefed the process of compiling the bookFrom 1947 to 1952: Five Years' Development of Jiangnan University, which reviewed with explicit details the development of Jiangnan University from 1947 to 1952, reflecting the strong feelings of Jiangnan alumni for the university and their distinct spirit known both at home and abroad

Fourthly, Mr. Deng Hongxun, on behalf of the former Jiangnan University Alumni Association, presented some precious historical materials to theAlmaMater, on behalf of which Chancellor Wu Guilong received appreciatively.

Also, an informal discussion was conducted, in which the Alumni representatives, from their different point of views, looked back on the past relating to JU, expressed their sincere blessing for JU, and delivered their appreciation for the Rong family.

Finally, Chancellor Wu Guilong extended a tribute speech for the Rong family, alumni and people from different areas, who have long been caring for and supporting JU. He said that Mr. Rong Desheng, a patriotic entrepreneur, had been exerting emphasis on China’s education all his life. Mr. Rong valued highly on the development of his hometown, abided by the view that “Knowledge Is the People's Shared Arms”, and established educational institutions and cultivated talents with the idea of “making Contributions for China by establishing enterprises, flourishing China by supporting education and powering China by strengthening science and technology”, which has been encouraging generations of Wuxi people and even Chinese. He also pointed out that all the members of JU should stick to Rong Desheng’s idea of university mission—“Saving China by Talents Cultivating”, enrich JU’s mission and spirit by incorporating the Rongs’ idea and pass it on to generations of JU students. He demanded that JU should, encouraged by the JU’s motto—“Learning and Practice to Perfection”, conform the times，keep advancing, promote collaborative creativity to continuously improve the development of educational quality, scientific research and social service, and push forward JU to become a high-level University with distinctive features.

According to the historical materials, in 1947, then private-run Jiangnan University, established by Mr. Rong Desheng, was a new-style, pragmatic and comprehensive university with a variety of undergraduate programs. A batch of then eminent figures and scholarly professors and experts successively went there to host the leading positions of the university such as presidents, deans or directors of different schools, departments and disciplines. Among them, Mr. Wu Zhihui once was the Director of the Board, Mr. Dai Jitao and Mr. Rong Desheng, the Vice Director of the Board, Mr. Rong Yiren, a member of the Board, Mr. Qian Mu, Dean of the School of Literature, Mr. Tang Junyi, the Provost. In a short period of just a couple years, the university had cultivated a great batch of high-level talents in various areas. For instance, Mr. Deng Hongda had succeeded in conveying equipments with pneumatic transmission technology when designing and constructing Zhejiang Jinhua Flourmill, which filled a technological vacancy in China. Also, Mr. You Xin was the founder of China’s biological fermentation industry, and Mr. Zhao Dehou was a famous sugar expert.

Since Mr. Rong Desheng established Jiangnan University, a lot of members of the Rong family, have been concerned and dedicated to Wuxi City and its education: The late Mr. Rong Yiren, former Vice President of China, had been engaged in and supported the construction and development of JU; In 2007, Mr. Rong Zhijian donated 60 million RMB to JU for the construction of the National Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, Digital information centre of Gongyi Library and College Students Sports Activities Centre. These are just a few examples of their generous deeds for JU. It’s widely appreciated that generations of the Rong family, under the idea of “Keeping Hometown at Heart, Dedicating Themselves to Education and Pleading for Public Welfare”, have been making great efforts and contributions to the favorable development of JU. (C.Y.)

A Forum Held to Commemorate Rongs’ Contributions for JU

Vice President Xu Yan Reading Out a Congradulation Letter

Chancellor Wu Guilong Extending a Cordial Speech

Former Chancellor Jian Dajun Giving a Speech

Former Wuxi C.P.P.C.C Vice President Lei Huanwen Extending a Speech

JUEDF President Wang Wu Introuducing The History of Jiangnan University

Mr.Deng and Chancellor Wu Exchanging Presents