Peking University, Nov. 22, 2010: On the morning of Nov. 21, the Opening Ceremony of Peking University Cultural Month of Information and Engineering Sciences and PKU’s Achievements Exhibition in Information and Engineering Sciences during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period was held in the Sunshine Hall of the Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center.

Prof. Zhou Qifeng, President of Peking University and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Prof. Yang Fuqing, Director of the Faculty of Information and Engineering Sciences and Member of CAS, Prof. Yang Kaizhong, Secretary-General of Peking University attended the ceremony. The Opening Ceremony was hosted by Prof. Mei Hong, Dean of PKU School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Sciences.

The Opening Ceremony of PKU Cultural Month of Information and Engineering Sciences and Achievements Exhibition in Information and Engineering Sciences during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period

The Launching Ceremony

Mr. Du Zhanyuan, Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Science & Technology, Mr. Yang Xueshan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Prof. Sun Jiaguang, Vice President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Prof. Zhou Qifeng,  Prof. Yang Fuqing co-powered up the electronic display device showing the words “PKU Cultural Month of Information and Engineering Sciences and Achievements Exhibition in Information and Engineering Sciences during the Eleventh Five-year Plan.”

President Zhou Qifeng delivered a keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony. He reviewed the development history of the Information Science of Peking University, listing "No. 1"s born at Peking University in the field of China's Information Science. He pointed out that the foundation and development of PKU Information Science witnessed the overall process of China's Information Science from initiation to strength and was the miniature of the whole development. President Zhou Qifeng expressed thanks to  relevant government authorities,  peer organizations, business communities and all social sectors for their long time concern and support. 

President Zhou Qifeng’s  Keynote Speech

Mr. Hong Xiaowen, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), gave a speech on behalf of corporate guests. In his speech, Mr. Hong reviewed the history of cooperation between MSRA and Peking University and spoke highly of the cooperation with School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science of Peking University (EECS) in the fields of graphics, speech processing, network communication, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. In his view, EECS of Peking University is the  most intimate and most reliable partner of MSRA.

Mr. Sun Jiaguang, Vice-Minister in charge of National Natural Science Foundation of China, pointed out that Peking University was an important cooperation partner with the Foundation and ranked on top in terms of the number of annual application for funds in China. He approved of the innovations made by Peking University in information science and technology and expressed his expectation that Peking University would continue to support EECS and obtain further achievements during the Twelfth Five-Year .

Yang Xueshan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that Peking University gave birth to many businesses which combined production, teaching, and research closely, such as Founder, Jadbird Software Engineering Co. Ltd, and many other outstanding small and medium enterprises. They have the capacity to advance and have already made significant contributions to the development of information industry in China. Peking University has shouldered many important research and development tasks in a series of major special subjects launched by the central government and has made great contribution to the implementation of the special subjects. He anticipated that Peking University would make more contributions considering its strong basic research power and the advantage of being multi-disciplinary.

Du Yuanzhan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, thought that the “Eleventh Five-Year” period was the first step of the implementation of the National Outline for Medium and Long Term Science and Technology Development. With China’s rapid economic growth, the next 10 years is important for the implementation of the Outline. He hoped that Peking University make full use of the advantage of innovative research and make new contributions to the research and development of information science and technology for the betterment of the country and national economy, following the guideline “Independent Innovation, Key Areas’ Breakthrough, Supporting Development, Leading to the Future.” 

Guests on the Exhibition

After the opening ceremony, the guests visited the PKU’s Achievement Exhibition in Information Science and Technology during the  “Eleventh Five-Year.” The Exhibition serves as a systematic summary of the achievements made by EECS of Peking University in five aspects: subject profiles, research institutes, key laboratories (Engineering Centers), scientific research achievements and awards and 973 Program. The exhibition made a deep impression on the visitors.

The year 2010 is the final year of the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” and the beginning of the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan.” During the “Eleventh Five-Year” period, PKU has made a series of major achievements in basic research, critical technology development, and technology transfer of information science in accordance with China's needs and global leading edge. Peking University will invite guests from all walks of life during the Month to give suggestions on the development of information science at PKU and lay a more solid foundation for building world-class information science.

Translated by: Chen Wei and Ma Xiao

Edited by: Zhang Chunlan

Source: PKU News (Chinese)