Peking University, Sept 23, 2019: On September 15, the inaugurating meeting of Rural Development Research Institute of Yan'an University was held on the new campus of Yan'an University. To implement CCP’s strategy of revitalizing the countryside and the important instructions of Xi Jinping on making Yan'an University "more distinctive and more competent", Peking University HSBC Business School assisted Yan'an University in establishing Rural Development Institute. Professor Hai Wen of HSBC Business School serves as its first Dean.

The inauguration

Before the conference, Yan'an University held a symposium to commemorate the second anniversary of Xi Jinping's important instructions on running Yan'an University. More than 80 representatives participated in the symposium. Leaders of municipal schools all agreed that the establishment of Rural Development Research Institute was one of the specific measures to implement the important instructions of the Xi and should be given substantial support.

In his inaugural speech, Hai Wen explained the significance of establishing Research Development Institute from three aspects: the importance of rural development, the necessity of rural promotion, and the feasibility of fulfilling the mission. Hai Wen said that it would take three to five years to build the institute into a high-end think-tank for rural development theory and policy research, a talent training base for rural development, and a platform for enterprise cooperation related to rural development.

Hai Wen delivering his speech

Yan’an University President Zhang Jinsuo said that the establishment of the institute was a concrete action for Yan'an University to further implement the spirit of Xi Jinping's important instructions and also an important measure for Yan'an University to comprehensively promote open education.

In his speech, Yan’an Vice-Mayor Zhang Jianbo expressed his belief that with the full support of all aspects, the institute would become a top-quality idea bank for rural rejuvenation and make positive contributions to rural rejuvenation and sci-tech innovation in northern
Shaanxi.

The establishment of Rural Development Research Institute of Yan'an University has received strong support from famous entrepreneurs, with whose investments Xi'an Rural Development Charity Foundation was established to support the research and teaching of the institute. Wang Shi, chairman of the foundation, said that he was very supportive of education, especially the training of talents for rural 
revitalization; thus to this end, he was willing to make his best efforts to support the development of Institute.

At the meeting, the congratulations videos of Yuan Longping, the honorary chairman of Xi'an Rural Development Charity Foundation and the expert of hybrid rice breeding in China, and Liu Yonghao, the co-founder of the Foundation and chairman of New Hope Group, were
broadcast.

Rural Development Institute is a secondary office in charge of teaching and research under the direct leadership and management of Yan'an University. Xi'an Rural Development Charity Foundation financially supports the operation, research, teaching, and development of
Institute. The institute has a board of directors responsible for the appointment of key personnel and decision-making.

Written by: Chen Yubing
Edited by: Wei Yunqi
Source: PKU News (Chinese)