Xi calls for building of “world-class universities with Chinese characteristics”

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the building of world-class universities with Chinese characteristics to nurture people well-prepared to join the socialist cause. China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, reported that Xi made the statement during an inspection tour of Peking University (PKU), ahead of China's Youth Day and the 120th anniversary of PKU, both falling on May 4.

Noting that the development of universities and the nation complement each other, Xi stressed that more efforts should be spent on nurturing world-class universities, but foremost with Chinese characteristics, Xinhua said.

Learning about the university's latest research achievements in science and engineering, Xi noted that innovation was the most powerful engine of development and most essential element of a country's national strength and core competitiveness.

He said that universities and their academic faculty, as a key part of the country's innovation system and task-force, should enhance integration among different disciplines, offer more support for interdisciplinary researches and scientists in cutting-edge areas and cultivate more leading scientists and world-class research teams.   www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).