News

Gong Qihuang

President of Peking University

尊敬的田中爱治校长，
早稻田大学的老师们、同学们，
各位来宾，女士们、先生们：
Respected President Aiji Tanaka,
Faculty and students of Waseda University,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

大家好！非常荣幸能够接受早稻田大学的名誉博士学位。这份荣誉，不仅是对我个人工作的认可，更是北京大学与早稻田大学深厚友谊的见证，它将激励我们两所学府面向未来，进一步拓展与深化全面合作。
Good morning! It is a great privilege for me to accept this honorary doctorate from Waseda University. This accolade is not only a recognition of my academic career but also a testament to the profound friendship between Peking University and Waseda University. It will serve as an inspiration for our two institutions to further broaden and deepen our comprehensive collaboration in the years ahead.

中日两国一衣带水，2000多年来，和平友好是两国人民心中的主旋律，两国人民互学互鉴，促进了各自发展，也为人类文明进步作出了重要贡献。自中日邦交正常化以来，在经济、文化、科技、教育等多个领域展开了广泛的合作与交流。大学作为知识与文化的传播者，更应发挥其独特的作用，为加强并深化中日之间的友好关系做出积极贡献。作为北京大学的校长，我深知两校学术合作交流对促进中日交流的重要性；同时，作为新晋早稻田大学名誉博士，让我有机会更深入地了解早稻田大学的学术与文化。在此，我向早大的各位同仁简要回顾两校交流的历史，并展望我们未来的合作前景。
Separated by only a narrow stretch of water, the people of China and Japan have shared a bond of peace and friendship as the predominant theme for more than 2,000 years. The people of our two nations have continuously learned from each other, fostering mutual development and making significant contributions to the advancement of human civilization. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations, China and Japan have engaged in extensive cooperation and exchanges in a wide range of areas including economy, culture, science and technology, and education.
As universities disseminate knowledge and culture, we play a unique role in reinforcing and deepening the bonds of friendship between China and Japan. As President of Peking University, I am keenly aware of the critical importance of our academic cooperation in fostering greater understanding between our countries. Meanwhile, as a new honorary doctorate holder from Waseda University, I am afforded the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of its academic and cultural milieu. Today, I wish to reflect briefly on the historical exchanges between our two institutions and envision the promising future of our collaboration.

北京大学与早稻田大学是各自国家具有悠久历史、声誉卓著的大学，两校友谊源远流长，为中日两国教育文化交流做出了不可磨灭的贡献。回望历史，两校皆是本国近代维新变法的产物，推动了本国求新知于世界，启民智以铸魂。1905年，早稻田大学在日本率先开设了清朝留学生部，为中国留学生提供了宝贵的学习机会。当时，很多中国新文化运动的倡导者和共产主义运动的先驱，比如陈独秀、李大钊等都曾留学日本，就读于早稻田大学。在五四运动期间，北大师生亦曾组织访日团前往日本，与早大师生进行深入交流互动。
Peking University and Waseda University, both prestigeous institutions with illustrious histories in their respective countries, have long enjoyed a profound friendship, contributing significantly to the educational and cultural exchanges between our two countries. Reflecting on our history, both universities emerged as results of modern reform movements in their respective countries, driving the pursuit of new knowledge globally and enlightening their citizens. In 1905, Waseda University became the first institution in Japan to establish a department for Chinese students from the Qing Dynasty, offering them invaluable learning opportunities. Many leading figures of the Chinese New Culture Movement and pioneers of the Communist Movement, such as Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao, studied in Japan and studied at Waseda University. During the May Fourth Movement, a delegation consisting of PKU faculty and students visited Japan, engaging in meaningful exchanges with their counterparts at Waseda.

中国改革开放后，北京大学与早稻田大学的关系进入了新的阶段。自1982年签署学术交流协议以来，两校在多个领域广泛开展交流合作，比如双方互相在对方校园举行了“大学日”，创建了北大-早大双学位项目，共建孔子学院等。近年来，两校依托“亚洲校园”“中日大学生千人交流大会”等项目平台开展更多合作。这些实例充分表明早大是北大在日本非常重要的大学合作伙伴，我们始终珍视这一关系，并且希望在已有基础上进一步巩固和提升双方的合作。
Since the inception of China’s Reform and Opening-up policy, the relations between Peking University and Waseda University have entered a new age. Following the signing of an academic exchange agreement in 1982, our two institutions have developed extensive exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Initiatives such as holding “University Day” on each other’s campus, establishing the PKU–Waseda Double Degree Program, and jointly founding a Confucius Institute have further strengthened our ties. In recent years, we have expanded our collaboration through platforms such as the “CAMPUS Asia” initiative and the “China–Japan 1,000 Student Exchange Program.” These examples amply demonstrate that Waseda University is a vital partner for Peking University in Japan and that we have always cherished this relationship and will continue to reinforce this valued partnership upon its existing foundation and elevate it to a new level.

青年代表着国家与世界的未来，承载着希望和梦想。北大与早大的学生们，他们朝气蓬勃、满怀理想，勇于担当、追求卓越，终将成为两国未来的引领者。我非常赞同田中校长在早稻田大学开学典礼上对同学提出的要求，“要有坚韧的智慧、温柔的感性和共鸣的理性”。希望大家在自己所热爱的领域坚持不懈，绽放出自己的独特光彩。同时，两校青年要积极了解和学习彼此的文化，通过交流合作实现共同进步。希望两校青年携手合作、共同应对全人类所面临的新挑战，共创美好未来。
The youth of today are the future for our nations and the world, embodying hope and dreams. The students of Peking University and Waseda University are vibrant, idealistic, courageous, and committed to excellence. They are destined to become the future leaders of our two countries. I fully endorse President Tanaka’s asking of the students at the convocation of Waseda University: “Strive for resilient wisdom, gentle sensitivity, and resonant rationality.” I encourage you to persevere in your chosen fields with passion, illuminating the world with your unique brilliance. Additionally, I urge the young people of both universities to actively engage in learning and appreciating each other’s cultures, achieving shared progress through exchange and cooperation. I hope that the youth of our two universities will join hands to address the new challenges facing humanity and together create a brighter future.

最后，再次感谢早稻田大学给予我这一殊荣，感谢为中日两国间学术、文化交流做出不懈努力的老师、同学们！祝愿两校的友谊常青！谢谢大家！
In closing, I wish to once again express my deepest gratitude to Waseda University for bestowing this special honor upon me, and to all the faculty and students who have tirelessly contributed to fostering academic and cultural exchanges between China and Japan. May the friendship between our two universities flourish and be long lasting! Thank you!

Profile

Mr. Gong Qihuang was born in Putian City, Fujian Province, China, in 1964. He received his B.S. degree from the Department of Physics at Peking University in 1983 and obtained his Ph.D. degree in Physics in 1989. He began his teaching career at Peking University in 1991, was appointed as Cheung Kong Professor of Physics in 1998, and Boya Chair Professor at Peking University in 2016. He was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2013 and fellow of the World Academy of Sciences in 2018. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Vice President of Peking University. Since 2018, he successively served as Provost and Executive Vice President of Peking University, and has been serving concurrently as the Dean of Graduate School. In June 2022, he assumed the position of President of Peking University.