On September 8, Renmin University of China held the 2024 commencement ceremony for the new graduate students, and more than 5,500 new students embarked on a new voyage in RUC.

Zhang Donggang, Chairperson of Renmin University of China, presided over the ceremony, and President Lin Shangli delivered a speech. Yang Ruilong, a national first-class professor of the School of Economics, and Zhu Xinkai, Zheng Shuiquan, Qi Pengfei, Wang Yi, Feng Shizheng, Zheng Xinye, Zhi Xiaoqiang, and QingGeluetu, representatives of the university leaders, were present.

The opening ceremony opened with the solemn national anthem.

On behalf of the university, Mr. Zhang Donggang extended a warm welcome to the new graduate students of the class of 2024. Zhang said that RUC is a unique Chinese university in the field of humanities and social sciences. Going forward, Zhang hoped that students would bear in mind the development of the country, and strive to construct China's own knowledge system, realize the national rejuvenation of the nation, and aspire to build a community of shared future for mankind. We are determined to develop a new form of human civilization, and to write a wonderful chapter that will live up to our time, our age and our people!

Following Zhang’s speech, President Lin also addressed the students in which he reviewed the glorious history of RUC and its close connection with the development of the nation and its people. He said that, over the past 87 years following the university’s inception, generations of RUCers have devoted to empower the country and its people. All this constitute our source of confidence as a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. In the new era, Lin expected to see that RUC could shoulder the noble mission of constructing China's own knowledge system and serve the development strategy of China.

Yang Ruilong, Professor of the School of Economics, as the representative of graduate student supervisor, gave a message to the new graduate students of the class of 2024. He said that the essence of graduate student education is research, which means to explore the truth, nature and law of things, and to improve their ability to find problems, analyze problems and solve problems. He hoped that the students would be idealistic, down-to-earth, study hard, constantly refine their ability to independently engage in scientific research, and move towards the intended research goals.

Assistant Professor Meng Cheng of the Institute of Statistics and Big Data, as a representative of young teachers, also addressed the students. He shared his own experience of and insights into studying and teaching, and encouraged students to cherish their study time in RUC, focus on the academic frontiers, climb the scientific peaks, and at the same time, actively delve into the society, learn about the society, serve the society, integrate their personal ideals and pursuits into the cause of the country, solve real problems with their expertise, and contribute to the realization of China's high level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement.

Chen Ziyue, as representative of new master students from RUC Law School, shared her feeling of shifting from undergraduate students to graduate students. “What changes is the identity, but what remains unchanged is the original aspiration of seeking truth and holding fast to the ideals.

Wang Simin, representative of new doctoral students from School of Journalism and communication, said that coming back to campus as a student after 18 years of work is both a return and a departure. Years of work experience not only makes her understanding of Journalism greater, but also gives her a deeper understanding of the importance of theoretical study and research.

Ahemd Saad Shaneen, a representative of international freshmen from Egypt and the School of Chinese Studies and Cultural Exchange, said that as an international student, he hopes to improve his Chinese language skills, learn more about Chinese culture, and learn more about China's development experience in the course of his study at RUC. In the future, he is determined to measure the land of China with his feet, discover the spirit of China with his eyes, present the real, and comprehensive image of China to Egypt and the rest of the world, and strive to be the promoter, innovator and contributor of China-Egypt civilization mutual understanding.

The event ended with a wonderful performance by Li Zihan, a doctoral student from the School of Mathematics, Yang Ziyu, a master's student from the School of Philosophy, and Lin Zewei, a doctoral student from the School of International Studies.