Dear President ZHOU Qifeng, Vice Mayor WU Yihuan, dear Chancellor Jeffrey LEHMAN, dear students and colleagues:

I would like to welcome our 904 new students including 31 international students who come from 19 countries. Just two days ago in this beautiful southern summer the 26th Summer Universiade successfully concluded in Shenzhen. As Shenzhen Graduate School is going to carry out its next ten-year plan, your arrival signals the beginning of a new school year. On behalf of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, I wish to extend a warm welcome to every new student! We are glad to have President Zhou, who traveled from Beijing especially for today’s Opening Ceremony. On behalf of all School faculty and students, I also wish to express our happiness and gratefulness to him.

You must be curious about the reason why we are speaking English in this Opening Ceremony of a Chinese University. Is it because we have some international students and faculty who have trouble in understanding Chinese? This may be the reason, or it may not. There are a great number of people around the world who know nothing about Chinese language at all, or whose Chinese is not as perfect as to enable themselves to conduct academic communication or to grasp a full picture of China. Nowadays China’s development has already reached a stage where the world needs to be aware of that. We do not want language difficulties to block their efforts in knowing more about China, and therefore we speak English. Meanwhile, we still realize that China must push forward its attempts to fulfill its world role. Thanks to thirty-year’s of reform and opening-up, China has grown from a poor country to an important economic and political entity. With its continuous efforts the country is trying to develop into a world power. As a result, we must know the world and acquaint ourselves with what is considered as most advancing at present. Only through this way can we make contribution to the development of humanity and world peace together with other people in this world. Mastery of an international language is a key tool in leading us to the world. The meaning of using English in today’s Opening Ceremony is far beyond mere formality. The message behind this is that we are determined to build an international campus here.

For more then 60 years China’s historical mission was to restore vitality to the country. If this conclusion is true, China’s future task will then focus on advancing the world civilization and making improvement for all human beings. To fulfill that task, a large number of talents and intellectuals are required. Peking University will take responsibility in conducting research in the scientific forefront and providing outstanding graduates for both China and the world. Therefore, as an important part of the University’s goal of being among the world’s best universities, Shenzhen Graduate School holds firmly “New Frontiers, Interdisciplinary Studies, Applied Research, and International Standards” as its principles. The School also aims at training students to have comprehensive capacities, professional knowledge, international perspectives, and social responsibility. However, the School needs all its faculty and students including you, the newest 904 students, to dedicate yourselves to the realization of that great goal.

What do you need to do in order to become a responsible person that can help to fulfill this historical task? There are three aspects from where you can start.

First, do not hesitate to take responsibility for fulfilling your social roles.

China is zealously working on furthering its goal to become a great power. The students should shoulder responsibility for both our country and society with a bold and generous heart. An ancient Chinese saying goes that one should be willing to dedicated oneself to the cause of one’s beloved country even at the cost of one’s life, and therefore one cannot run away from one’s duty simply due to something more than imaginary harm. As PKU-ers, we cannot relinquish our emotions to the vicissitudes of life; we cannot tolerate a narrow mind which always focuses on personal gains and losses, and temporary successes and failures. Past success and glory ought not to define PKU-er’s vision of the future. Our former President Jiang Menglin once described a true thinker as someone that has not only a logical mind, but also the nerve to speak out loud his real thinking. He also described a doer as someone that does not only have a sense of responsibility, but dares to carry it upon himself despite its heaviness. A country without such responsible and outstanding people will not be able to live up to its duty as a great world power.

I am delighted that, in the 26th Universiade that just ended, our students have set a great example of what we are now preaching. Their excellent performance is inspiring for society, too. It touches my heart to know that among the new students there are 45 of them who have volunteered at the Universiade before enrollment. They have presented to the world what PKU-ers should be. For me this is precisely the moment I feel gratification and satisfaction.

Second, acquire the spirit and ability to innovate. Innovation is the cornerstone of progress, the source of development. China has spent decades in trying to catch up with developed countries. However, our future will definitely rely on innovation. Innovation is spiritually demanding. An innovator should not fear hardship or failure. Moreover, he or she should not be blind to so-called authority. Innovation cannot be nourished out of vanity but only through seriousness, patience and accumulated knowledge and experience. Otherwise, any innovating attempt will end in futility. As Karl Marx said, there is no easy way to go in the pursuit of science. Only those who travel fearlessly on however tortuous a road can finally experience the rewarding and splendor moment in their life. There is not a single doubt that innovation requires capability. Globalization and the information revolution have pushed forward the frontiers of innovation. At the same time, work turns more complex. It is for this reason that we proposed the principles of “New Frontiers,” and “Interdisciplinary Studies” so as to improve our competitiveness by having multi-perspectives and interdisciplinary backgrounds.

Third, do develop in yourself the quality of quickly adapting to this new era. To be among world elites in this age of globalization, one must have high EQ in addition to IQ. The EQ I referred to first means a high standard of morality. Be truthful in your study, honest in your work, and tolerant in dealing with others. Still, this EQ includes more this. It indicates one should understand the importance of working hard, cooperating in a team, and making sacrifices when necessary, among possessing many other qualities. Both society and individuals benefit when individual students pay attention to cultivate their merit and virtues as they acquire knowledge. A world-class university is not only a place where knowledge is instilled, but also where national elites and social role-models are cultivated. As PKU-ers, you should have the ambition to become leaders in this international age rather than just great professionals. Your goal is to depict a picture of a future world which everyone looks forward to, and which everyone is longing to build under your leadership.

Dear students, you come in as recipients of our School’s education, and you will leave on missions to realize the goals you set forth in this School. While you are to study and conduct research here, you are also to contribute to the development of this international campus of Peking University. Success brings out joy. It is definitely a wonderful experience to embrace success. However, more joy lies in making success happen. Let’s start from here, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. Seeds of our mission, goals and future have already been sown in the soil here. Let’s make a mark in history for our generation with our own contribution to the country’s prosperity and well-being of humanity.

Finally, I sincerely wish every student health, happiness, and success in the year to come! Thank you!

尊敬的周其凤校长、吴以环副市长、雷蒙院长，亲爱的各位同学，各位老师：

在美丽的南方仲夏，在刚刚圆满承办了世界大学生运动会的深圳，在即将迈入第二个十年的南国燕园，我们满怀喜悦地迎来了904名新同学，其中包括来自19个国家的31名留学生。各位新同学的到来，标志着北京大学深圳研究生院一个新的学年的开始。在此，我代表北大深圳研究生院，向各位新同学表示热烈的欢迎!同时我也代表深圳研究生院全体师生对周校长专程从北京赶来参加今天的开学典礼表示热烈的欢迎与衷心的感谢。

同学们一定很好奇，在一所中国的大学里，我们的开学典礼为什么是用英文的?是因为我们在座的一些留学生和国际老师不懂中文吗?可以说“是”，也可以说“不是”。说“是”，是因为世界上有很多人的确不懂中文，或者说他们的中文还没有好到可以用来进行学术交流或用来了解中国，而中国的发展已经到了需要全世界来了解中国，理解中国的时候了，我们不希望语言成为他们了解中国的障碍。说“不是”，是因为中国本身需要进一步融入世界。经过三十年的改革与发展，中国已经从一个贫穷落后的国家发展成为一个在世界上举足轻重的经济与政治实体，并日益发展成为一个世界大国。我们也必须了解世界，懂得前沿，我们才能与各国人民一起为人类进步和世界和平作出贡献，而熟练的使用国际化语言是帮助我们走向世界的重要工具。今天的全英文开学典礼虽然只是一种形式，但我们要传达的信息是：我们在立志建设一个国际化的校区。

如果说，过去60多年来中国的使命主要是通过努力奋斗实现民族复兴的话，那么未来中国的使命应该是通过在国际社会发挥积极作用，为全人类的文明和进步做出贡献。完成这样的使命，必须有大批杰出的人才。从事前沿的科学研究，为中国为世界的未来培养大批优秀人才，就是我们北京大学应负的历史责任。为此，作为北京大学创建世界一流大学的重要组成部分，北大深圳研究生院确定了“前沿领域、交叉学科、应用学术、国际标准”的学科建设方针和“综合素质、专业知识、国际眼界、社会责任”的学生培养目标，而实现这样一个宏伟的目标，需要我们全体师生(包括在座的904名新同学)的共同努力。

怎样才能将自己培养成能够担当这一历史使命的人才呢?我想我们需要从三个方面去努力：

一是要有勇于担当的社会责任感。中国的大国崛起之路正在向前延伸，北大学子必须秉着舍我其谁的豪迈，勇于担当国家与社会的大责。苟利国家生死以，岂因祸福避趋之。北大学子的情感不能拘泥于个人的悲欢与离合;北大学子的心胸不能局限在身边的得失与进退;北大的学子的目光也不能只停留在局部的成就与辉煌。我们的老校长蒋梦麟先生说：“所谓能思者，养成清楚之头脑，并有肝胆说出其思想。所谓能行者，做事担得起责任，把肩膀直起来，万斤担子我来当”。一个国家如果没有这么一批勇于担当的精英，这个国家就不可能承担世界大国的责任，而北大人就应该有这种心怀天下的责任感。

我很高兴在刚刚结束的第26界世界大学生运动会上，北京大学的志愿者们身体力行，向社会传递出榜样的力量。特别是在座的45名新同学，还未入学就以北大人的风采服务大运，从点滴小事上体现出了北大人的责任感，令人感动和欣慰。

二是要具有创新的精神与能力。创新是进步的基石，创新是发展的动力。如果说，过去几十年中国的发展主要是赶超发达国家的话，那么未来中国的发展必须靠创新。创新首先需要精神，一种不畏艰险，不惧权威，不图安逸，不怕失败的精神。创新需要远离浮躁，刻苦钻研，潜心治学，厚积薄发。如果没有这种精神和态度，所谓创新只能是一句空话。正如马克思所说，“在科学上是没有平坦的大道可走的，只有在崎岖攀登的小路上不畏劳苦的人，才有希望达到光辉的顶点”。当然，创新也需要能力。全球化和信息产业革命推进了创新，也增加了创新的复杂性。在这样的背景下，更加需要我们用多元的视角，交叉的学科背景来培养创新的能力，这也正是我们提出“前沿领域、交叉学科”的原因。

三是适应新时代的个人综合素质。作为全球化时代的精英人才，除了要有很高的智商外，必须要有很好的情商。这种情商首先是高标准的道德素养。学习工作中的拒伪求真，为人做事中的诚实守信，待人处世中的热情宽容。这种情商也包括学习和工作中的拼搏精神、与人合作的团队精神，顾全大局的牺牲精神等。无论对社会的贡献还是个人的成功，在学习知识的同时，注意对自己综合素质的培养是非常重要的。世界一流大学不仅仅是传授知识的地方，更是培养国家精英社会楷模的殿堂。作为北大学子，特别是一个在中国走向世界时代的北大人，我们的未来不应止步于成为各个行业的专家，更要成为能够“描述愿景，赋予梦想，率众前行”的时代引领者。

同学们，你们既是学校培育的对象，也是学校使命的践行者。今天你们来到了北大深圳研究生院，你们不仅是来到这里学习研究，同时也是来到这里参加北大国际化校区的建设工作。享受成功固然是一种幸福，创造成功更是一种享受。让我们将使命、梦想、未来的种子一齐播撒在美丽的南国燕园，为国家的繁荣，人类的幸福做出我们这代人不可磨灭的贡献。

最后，衷心祝愿同学们在新的一年里，身体健康，生活快乐，学业有成!谢谢!