On October 19, Jimei University held a seminar titled “Promoting the Spirit of Jiajing in the New Era and Advancing the High-Quality Development of Our University,” alongside the first executive meeting of the 7th Board of Trustees. This gathering was an opportunity to honor the remarkable contributions of Mr. Chen Jiajing and to reflect on his character and ideals. Participants discussed how to carry forward his spirit in a contemporary context, aiming to build Jimei University into a premier institution with distinctive strengths in engineering while contributing to the educational advancement of the province and promoting the practical implementation of modern Chinese principles in Fujian.

The event was attended by key figures including Cheng Xueyuan, a member of the China Overseas Chinese Federation and its vice president; Zhang Yan, a member of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and head of the Publicity Department; and Liao Huasheng, the Deputy Mayor of Xiamen, who all delivered remarks.

Cheng emphasized the importance of embracing Mr. Chen’s unwavering political beliefs and guiding students to honor the glorious tradition of patriotism. He stressed the need for students to cultivate a strong sense of duty toward their country and homeland, embodying the spirit of self-improvement and social responsibility that Mr. Chen represented. He further highlighted the significance of fostering a spirit of innovation and perseverance among students.

Zhang urged Jimei University to elevate its political stance, deepen reform and innovation, and expedite the establishment of a first-class engineering-focused university that contributes to modernizing Fujian within a Chinese context. He called for strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership and integrating the “Jiajing spirit” into the foundational educational ethos.

Liao, representing the Xiamen municipal government, pledged unwavering support for the development of Jimei University. He expressed hope that the university would leverage its unique strengths and ties to overseas Chinese communities to achieve first-class status, thus providing robust intellectual support for the development of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone. He encouraged alumni to promote Mr. Chen’s educational vision and to continue gathering resources for the quality growth of Xiamen’s education sector.

Shen Canhuang, the Party Secretary of Jimei University, remarked that the best way to honor Mr. Chen is to carry on and further develop the initiatives he founded. President Xie Chaotian presented a report on the university’s progress over the past year, highlighting accomplishments, challenges, and future plans.

Chen Liren, Mr. Chen’s grandson, asserted the commitment to unite alumni and overseas Chinese in their shared mission inspired by the “Jiajing spirit,” emphasizing that they will tirelessly support the development of Jimei University. Li Chuanyu, a representative of the Board of Trustees and chairman of the Indonesia Shangda Group, echoed this sentiment, stating that promoting the Jiajing spirit is a common aspiration among overseas Chinese, and he committed to contributing to Jimei University’s progress while mitigating its challenges.

The meeting concluded with a signing ceremony for cooperative agreements, during which Shen Canhuang and Xie Chaotian presented donation plaques to representatives of contributing organizations.