“The blooming season of the spring brought back by the southerly wind, ten years of striving to pass on the torch and cultivate talents for the nation”. On March 23, the 10th Anniversary and Development Forum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) was held in Liwen Hall. More than 1,000 people, including government officials at all levels, more than one hundred academicians, guests from all sectors of society, representatives from worldwide colleges and universities, alumni from all around the world, directors of examination authority and principals of national key middle schools from across the country, teachers and students, parents from different places of the country and news media, gathered together to celebrate the thanksgiving-themed 10th anniversary of the founding of CUHK-Shenzhen. The ceremony was followed by a development forum in commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), in which guests exchanged their opinions on “Joining Hands to Build An International Hub for Higher Education” and “Independently Cultivating Innovative Personnel with An International Perspective” among other topics.

Academician Han Qide, honorary chairman of China Association for Science and Technology, Mr. Qin Weizhong, deputy Party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen, prof. Rocky S. Tuan, chancellor of CUHK-Shenzhen and president of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, prof. Lawrence J. Lau, former president of CUHK attended and addressed the event. Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Ka-chiu sent his congratulations via video link. Prof. Xu Yangsheng, president of CUHK-Shenzhen made a keynote speech titled “Decade of Success, Fusion of Innovation”. Madam Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the fifth Hong Kong chief executive, academician Bai Chunli, former president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, prof. Liu Mingkang, former chairman of China Banking Supervision and Administration Commission, Mr. Zheng Yongnian, president chair professor at CUHK-Shenzhen and president of The Institute for International Affairs, academician Wu Manqing, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr. Tangjie, former deputy mayor of Shenzhen, academician Mao Junfa, president of Shenzhen University, and academician Tang Shuxian, president chair professor at CUHK-Shenzhen attended the ceremony and made speeches in the subsequent development forum.

On that day, spring was in the air, with peaches and plums blossoming, and the young-aged campus was filled up with spirited young people, full of vigour and vitality. The screen in Liwen Hall said the founding aspiration of CUHK-Shenzhen, “Building a Century-old University and a Millennial Brand with Wholehearted Enthusiasm and Conscience”.

At 2: 30 p.m., the celebration of the 10th anniversary started amid the singing of China’s national anthem.

 On March 17, the eve of the 10th anniversary, Huai Jinpeng, education minister and Party secretary of the Ministry of Education, visited CUHK-Shenzhen and presided over a symposium on exchanges and cooperation on high-level education in the University. He spoke favorably of the school-running achievements that the University has scored over the decade, affirmed the University’s efforts to create its own features and strengths by exploring a unique way to cultivate innovative students with an international vision, and sincerely hoped the University would continue to forge ahead to create another glorious decade.

 Meng Fanli, Party secretary of Shenzhen, and Qin Weizhong, deputy Party secretary and mayor of Shenzhen separately visited CUHK-Shenzhen, extended their warm congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the University as well as cordial greetings to all its teachers, students and staff members, and alumni at home and abroad on behalf of the municipal Party committee and the municipal government. They expressed gratitude to the University for its great contributions to social and economic development in Shenzhen and sincerely hoped that it would have a more promising future and score more tangible results. The University is called on to grasp significant opportunities presented by the GBA and the Demonstration Pilot Zone for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, to highlight the role of education in facilitating innovation-driven development and industrial progress and to contribute more to building Shenzhen into an economic hub with more international influence and a modern international metropolis.

 On this thankful day, President Xu earnestly said “thank you” to all friends who have given solicitude, support and help to CUHK-Shenzhen and presented honorary medals to a number of guests who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the University.

 The special contribution award went to prof. Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, prof. Ambrose Yeo-Chi King, prof. Lawrence J. Lau, prof. Joseph J. Y. Sung, prof. Rocky S. Tuan, madam Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, prof. Yin Xiaojing, prof. Wu Qidi, prof. Song Hai, doctor Wu Yihuan and prof. Liu Yingli. All of them have made tremendous contributions to the establishment of the University as designers or founders.

 When the ceremony concluded, philharmonic societies and choirs from The CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen kicked off the art performance themed “imagination” with melodious music and chorus. Academician Han Qide, honorary chairman of China Association for Science and Technology, administrative and teaching staff from the two campuses including prof. Rocky S. Tuan, president of The CUHK, Mr. KC Yuen, vice president of CUHK-Shenzhen, academician Tang Benzhong, dean of the School of Science and Engineering in CUHK-Shenzhen, professors and students from the School of Music, and all guests sang together the song Pearl of the Orient. In the singing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong consolidated their friendship, and jointly told a story of integrated development over one decade under “One Brand, Two Campuses”. Looking into the future, the two cities will continue to march forward hand in hand.

 After a decade of efforts, CUHK is committed to a fusion of innovation. Over the decade, CUHK-Shenzhen has forged ahead with courage to follow its founding aspiration “Building a Century-old University and a Millennial Brand with Wholehearted Enthusiasm and Conscience” and inherit The CUHK’s mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the world. By giving full play to “One Country, Two Systems” and the construction of the Greater Bay Area and the Demonstration Pilot Zone for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the University has set a successful example for integrated development of education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA and Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation in running schools to cultivate innovative talent. The burgeoning CUHK-Shenzhen will work hard to keep pace with national development and the times and continue to take root in Shenzhen and reach out to the world. By stretching the unique advantage resulting from “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong and the “Construction of Two Areas” in Shenzhen, the University will assume on its own initiative the important task of cultivating high-calibre personnel, explore ways for reform and innovation of higher education in China and actively engage in education, science and technology innovation in the GBA in an effort to help the GBA to become a base for cultivating innovative personnel and an international scientific innovation center . 

 The ceremony was followed by the CUHK-Shenzhen development forum under the theme “New Philosophy, New Horizon, New Pattern” in commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), in which attendees conducted discussions on “Joining Hands to Build An International Hub for Higher Education, Independently Cultivating Innovative Personnel with An International Perspective” among other topics. In addition, to celebrate the anniversary, a series of activities were held including the world forum for university presidents, the flag-raising ceremony, the mass wedding, the day for alumni returning to campus, the academician forum, the principal forum, academic forums on different disciplines, recreational and sports activities held by students, to encourage the University’s faculties and students to write a splendid chapter of education with more enthusiasm and an uplifting spirit.