On September 27th, the inaugural “Changchun Forum” roundtable was held at the Song Zhiping Gymnasium of Jilin University. More than 20 senior experts and scholars from renowned universities engaged in in-depth exchanges on organizing for Jilin University's "15th Five-Year Plan" development plan, aiming to accurately identify entry points and growth areas for the university to proactively serve and to provide scientific guidance for building a world-class university rooted in Chinese characteristics. The roundtable was chaired by Tian Hui, Secretary of the CPC Jilin University Committee. Attendees included Zhang Xi, President of Jilin University; Sun Youhong, President of Southeast University; Ma Yanming, President of Zhejiang University; and Zou Guangtian, Professor of Jilin University, among others.
At the meeting, Cai Lidong, Executive Vice President of Jilin University, introduced the working ideas for formulating Jilin University's "15th Five-Year Plan". During the roundtable exchange session, Zhang Xi, Sun Youhong, Ma Yanming, Zou Guangtian, along with Wang Shoujun, Executive Vice President of Beijing Normal University; Wang Yi, President of the People's Public Security University of China; Guan Haibing, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Zhang Junfeng, President of Ocean University of China; Lin Wei, President of Southwest University of Political Science & Law; Wang Huiyuan, President of Yanshan University; Sun Junqi, Vice President of Yanbian University (presiding over administrative work); and Zhang Baozong, Secretary of the CPC Changchun University of Science and Technology Committee delivered each gave keynotes. They offered suggestions and shared insights on topics such as deepening higher education reform, classified evaluation, digital and intelligent development, high-quality growth, and international cooperation. Their contributions reflected extensive experience and provided valuable recommendations for successfully formulating Jilin University’s “15th Five-Year Plan.”
Tian Hui noted that the experts’ opinions were forward-looking, broad in perspective, and highly relevant. Their suggestions addressed both strategic theoretical issues and practical operational matters, offering important guidance for advancing the university’s planning work. He instructed relevant departments to carefully study, consolidate, and incorporate these inputs. Tian Hui emphasized that by 2035, China aims to strengthen its education, science, and technology sectors. Higher education bears a pioneering strategic mission in building a strong nation and advancing national rejuvenation, and the “15th Five-Year Plan” period represents a critical phase for Jilin University as it works toward becoming a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. Scientific planning and high-quality preparation for this development blueprint carry significant responsibility.
He stressed that all members of Jilin University must further strengthen their sense of mission in advancing the university toward world-class status with Chinese characteristics. Through persistent effort and proactive engagement, they must shoulder the historic tasks of “cultivating talent for the Party and nurturing talent for the nation,” and uphold the commitment of “driving innovation, advancing national rejuvenation, and contributing to the revitalization of the Northeast.” The guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and directives, together with the spirit of the National Education Conference, should be fully integrated into the overall vision, strategic planning, goals, and implementation pathways of the “15th Five-Year Plan.” This will enhance the plan’s strategic foresight, scientific rigor, precision, and effectiveness, and enable Jilin University to contribute its strength to China’s goal of becoming an educational powerhouse.
Tian Hui added that the entire university must heighten its sense of urgency in addressing challenges, fully understand the practical difficulties involved in becoming first-class and striving toward the top tier, and make full use of the university’s advantages in scale and comprehensive disciplinary strengths. He called for overcoming bottlenecks, aligning the university’s development goals with technological progress and national strategic needs, deepening reform, accelerating development, and achieving new breakthroughs.
Zhang Xi expressed gratitude to the experts for their support and analyzed the development paths of leading universities both in China and abroad. He emphasized that building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics requires the Party’s comprehensive leadership, first-class faculty to cultivate first-class students, and first-class management and services to ensure continuous improvement. A high-quality faculty is the foundation of the university’s development, and attracting and nurturing outstanding talent is at the core of faculty building. Strengthening the faculty through both recruitment and training is essential for realizing the goals of the “15th Five-Year Plan.”
He expressed hope that all members of the university will work together, adopt flexible and effective approaches to attract talent, and create an environment where individuals can devote themselves wholeheartedly to teaching and research, achieving mutual enhancement of disciplinary development and personal growth. Given limited resources, he stressed the need to prioritize key areas. He urged management departments to foster inclusiveness and openness, cultivate an atmosphere of recognizing, respecting, and developing talent, deepen the university’s “Three-Step” development strategy, and accelerate progress toward building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics at an early date.
