Professor ZHU Rongji, Founding Dean of Tsinghua SEM, former Premier of the State Council, visited Tsinghua SEM on April 22, 2011 upon the 100th anniversary of Tsinghua University. Thousands of faculty and students gathered at SEM to welcome ZHU Rongji, who had been heading the School for seventeen years since its establishment.

A meeting was held to allow open communication between ZHU Rongji and students. At the meeting, ZHU Rongji started with conferring an inaugural certificate to the first speaker of CHEN Daisun Memorial Lecture in Economics: Eric S. Maskin, 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics Laureate.

ZHU Rongji waving greetings to students

Eight students from different programs of SEM talked about their study experience, achievements, and development plans at the meeting. ZHU Rongji listened carefully. 2009 undergraduate LIU Ruoyi was asked to speak in English to demonstrate students’ English skills.

ZHU Rongji talking with students

“I just can’t stop thinking about coming to SEM. I don’t necessarily visit other places, only SEM is a definite must-go.” ZHU Rongji said. During his speech, he repeatedly encouraged faculty and students to stick to facts and only speak the truth.

ZHU Rongji donated to the School library his signatured book ZHU Rongji in Press Conference in four versions, and a set of his recent book ZHU Rongji Speech Records.

ZHU Rongji donates books to SEM library

XUE Jian, a faculty member of the Department of Accounting, said: “Now once again we see the Founding Dean and hear his voice. We see him talking about real estate pricing, about transportation in Beijing, about elementary education in rural areas…my thoughts rumbled. Being part of Tsinghua, I feel a strong sense of responsibility. Now that I’m teaching in the Department of Accounting, I should try my best to contribute to the education of talents in China.”

Dean QIAN Yingyi presents gift books to ZHU Rongji

LIU Pingping, a 2010 master’s students said: “I can sense the powerful charisma of Dean ZHU Rongji. I marvel at him, and sincerely admire his toughness in his past experience.”