On September 21, the opening ceremony for the 2024–2025 academic year was held at the Suzhou campus of Renmin University of China (RUC). Students from the International College, Sino-French Institute, Silk Road School, and School of Intelligent Governance gathered by the scenic Dushu Lake, prepared to embark on a new journey under their new identity as “RUC students”.

Present at the ceremony were Lin Shangli, President of RUC; Zhi Xiaoqiang, Vice President of RUC; Joan Valadou, Consul General of France in Shanghai; Benjamin Demière, Education Consul of the French Consulate General in Shanghai; Uwe Brunn, representative of Paul Valéry University Montpellier; Jean-François Vergnaud, French representative of the Sino-French Institute; Nicolas Petit, Executive Representative of the French side of the Sino-French Institute; and Ni Qian, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Suzhou Industrial Park.

After presenting school badges to the new student representatives, President Lin Shangli delivered a speech. He stated that choosing a university means choosing a tradition of spirit, and being an “RUC student” signifies loyalty, pragmatism, and pioneering spirit. The Suzhou campus inherits the deep roots of RUC’s philosophy—“Everything for the people, for the nation, and for the country”—while shaping a future-oriented vision of “facing the world, the future, society, and development”. He emphasized that the Suzhou campus is rich in cultural heritage, serving not only as a key force for expanding RUC’s international outlook and promoting intelligent governance but also as a pioneer of cultural exchanges between China and the world, particularly China and France.

He further added that the students at the Suzhou campus, also known as Yuanjian College, are expected to embody a “red soul,” a “Chinese heart,” global competence, and a commitment to building a shared future for mankind. Students should carry the weight of history with conviction, understand the world with broad-mindedness, and foresee the future with insight. Standing at the unique intersection of Eastern and Western civilizations, students are encouraged to read history to find firm beliefs, embrace the world to pursue unity, and strive to be both the “pillars of national rejuvenation” and “vanguards of a stronger China”.

Zhi Xiaoqiang welcomed the 680 new students, noting that the Suzhou campus not only integrates Chinese and international education but also demonstrates a pioneering spirit in reform and development. As a key part of the university’s “multi-campus collaboration and integrated development” strategy, the Suzhou campus is making great strides through comprehensive reform, focusing on major national strategies and the cultivation of top innovative talents, aiming to become a new growth hub and international engine for the university, while serving as a strategic pillar for the Yangtze River Delta region.

Joan Valadou highlighted that the Sino-French Institute has played a key role in promoting academic, cultural, and economic exchanges between China and France, becoming a model of higher education cooperation between the two countries. He hoped that the students would receive a dual cultural education and become ambassadors for cultural exchange between China and France.

Uwe Brunn emphasized that the outstanding students of the Sino-French Institute have excelled not only in China and France but also globally. He expressed his hope that the Class of 2024 would continue to shine, leveraging their unique academic background, intercultural experience, and professional expertise to stand out in their fields.

In a video address, Béatrice Perez, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Sorbonne University, expressed the importance of the cooperation between Sorbonne and RUC. She praised the students from the Sino-French Institute at Sorbonne for their diligence and intellectual vigor and wished them success and personal growth in their new journey.

Elisa, Vice President of KEDGE Business School, encouraged students to cherish their unique study opportunities, work hard, maintain self-discipline, and excel in their academic endeavors, while passing on the deep friendship between China and France.

Ni Qian noted that as one of the earliest institutions to settle in the Suzhou Industrial Park, RUC has seen fruitful results in campus-city cooperation. He expressed hope that both sides would continue to collaborate closely and contribute more to national strategies in education and technological innovation. He urged the students to make full use of their time, acquire solid skills, and grow into the “pillars of national rejuvenation” and “vanguards of a stronger China”.

Wen Zhaoqing, an undergraduate student majoring in Communication at the Sino-French Institute, expressed her lifelong admiration for RUC. She said she would strive to become a visionary “RUC student”, serving as an ambassador for cultural exchange across China, France, and the world.

Wang Yingjie, a master’s student in Financial Risk Management at the International College, summarized his experience of studying and working at RUC, describing his most valuable asset as the deep-rooted connection to China’s great cause of national rejuvenation, to which he was willing to dedicate his life.

Gong Aogu, a new student at the Silk Road School, shared his excitement at joining one of China’s top universities. He expressed his ambition to contribute to enhancing friendly cooperation and exchanges between Argentina, Latin America, and China.

As the frontier of RUC’s efforts to serve national development and governance in the digital age, the School of Intelligent Governance welcomed its first cohort of students. First-year doctoral student Luo Le shared her admiration for RUC’s strengths in the humanities and social sciences and its interdisciplinary innovation. She expressed her commitment to exploring new technologies in academic research and unlocking research potential in governance practice.

Professor Sun Jiuwen, speaking on behalf of the faculty, urged the students to cherish their time, deepen their theoretical foundation, and transform their knowledge into practical problem-solving skills. He also emphasized the importance of teamwork and respecting diverse voices to enrich life experiences. He wished that students can foster a sense of social responsibility and aim to become the new talents needed in the new era.

Nicolas Petit remarked that the Sino-French Institute is not just a place for academic learning but also a sanctuary for cultural exchange, interchange of ideas, friendship-building, and academic collaboration. He hoped that students would not only enrich their knowledge but also shoulder the noble mission of promoting China-France friendship, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

In 1919, former President of RUC Wu Yuzhang urged Chinese students studying in France to “seek happiness for the majority and usher in a new era for society”. Whether in Beijing, Suzhou, or France, the red gene and glorious tradition of RUC has been and will be passed down from generation to generation.