Professor Lei Xinghui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Tongji University; Mr. Xu Jianwei, President of the Beijing Alumni Association of Tongji University; Professor Xie En, Deputy Dean (in Charge of Work) of the School; Professor Cheng Guoqiang, Lecturer Professor of the School, Winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Expert Enjoying the Special Allowance of the State Council; Professor Liu Xinghua, Distinguished Professor of the School, Director of the China Economic Research Center, and Member of the Council of the China Association for Innovation and Development Strategy; Ms. Cheng Guoping, Assistant to the Dean of the School, Secretary-General of the Economic and Management Branch of Tongji University Alumni Association, and Director of the School’s Alumni and Corporate Relations Office, and other leaders and guests attended the event.

Alumni representatives including Mr. Xu Dianlong, a 2008 EMBA alumnus of the School, Doctor of Management, Founder of Longchuan Shijia, and Former Editor-in-Chief of Economic Reference News of Xinhua News Agency; Mr. Li Zhong, an alumnus from the Department of Architecture (Class of 1988), Founder, Chairman and General Manager of Huagao Laisi International Real Estate Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and an Expert in Urban Development Strategy; Ms. Zhou Jian, an alumnus from the School of Economics and Management (Class of 1981), Director of China International Tendering Co., Ltd., and Senior Engineer; Mr. Zhang Hao, an alumnus from the Department of Environment (Class of 1990), Deputy Chief Representative of the Asian Development Bank in China; Mr. Luo Nengjun, a 2003 doctoral alumnus majoring in Management Science and Engineering, Deputy General Manager of CITIC Heye Investment Co., Ltd.; as well as guests such as Mr. Sun Zongpei, Secretary-General of the Beijing Alumni Association of Fudan University; Mr. Liu Zhifeng, Secretary-General of the Beijing Alumni Association of the University of Science and Technology of China; Mr. Xing Jiantao, Secretary-General of the Hebei Alumni Association of Tongji University, and nearly 100 alumni participated in this grand event.

Forum Opening

The forum received high attention from the university. Professor Lei Xinghui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Tongji University, was unable to attend the event in person due to work commitments, but specially delivered a video address to support the event. In his speech, President Lei extended warm congratulations on the successful convening of the forum. He mentioned that alumni have always been grateful to their alma mater, continuously supporting and giving back to it in various ways, exchanging resources with the university and seeking common development. The forum is of great significance for strengthening alumni friendship, and he hopes it will become a high-level and regular communication platform between alumni and their alma mater.

Mr. Xu Jianwei, President of the Beijing Alumni Association of Tongji University, stated in his speech that the slogan of the Beijing Alumni Association is “Serving Alumni, Enjoying Ourselves”. Over the years, the Beijing Alumni Association has connected Tongji alumni in Beijing through various rich activities such as academic exchanges, social welfare, and recreational events, igniting alumni enthusiasm and enhancing their sense of belonging. In recent years, economic and management alumni have shown the highest participation enthusiasm. It is hoped that through this forum and cooperation with the School of Economics and Management of Tongji University, Beijing economic and management alumni can be united to contribute to the school and alma mater.

Professor Xie En, Deputy Dean (in Charge of Work) of the School, introduced in detail the achievements of the school in discipline construction, talent cultivation, faculty development, international cooperation, and integration of industry and education from three aspects: the general situation of the school, its development strategy and goals, and its main achievements during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. He emphasized that the school is steadily moving towards the goal of becoming a world-class business school, hoping that alumni can actively offer suggestions and contribute to help the school and alma mater maintain a vigorous development momentum.

Ms. Cheng Guoping, Assistant to the Dean of the School, Secretary-General of the Economic and Management Branch of Tongji University Alumni Association, and Director of the Alumni and Corporate Relations Office, specifically introduced the current alumni work of the School to alumni. Starting from four aspects: the organizational structure of the alumni association, the 321 Plan, school-enterprise cooperation, and alumni donations, she pointed out that the Alumni Office has been actively thinking about and exploring new ideas and methods for alumni work. It is hoped that alumni can also participate more, and everyone will join hands, pool their efforts, and work together for the future.

Thematic Report

Taking The Logic of Path Selection for China’s Agricultural Modernization as the theme, Professor Cheng Guoqiang focused on agricultural and rural modernization. He mentioned that promoting agricultural and rural modernization is one of the important focal points for building a new development pattern. Although there are common laws in agricultural modernization, different countries have different paths. China’s agricultural modernization serves as the fundamental support for realizing self-reliance in a populous country and ensuring overall national stability. The development path and promotion mode of China’s agricultural modernization need to be adapted to China’s institutional arrangements, resource endowments, and development stages.

Taking Strategic Choices for the High-Quality Development of China’s Economy as the theme, Professor Liu Xinghua provided an in-depth analysis of the historical, political, economic, technological, and cultural logics behind China’s high-quality economic development in the new era, supported by detailed data and charts. He emphasized that development remains the key to resolving all challenges in China, and high-quality development is the primary task for building a modern socialist country in all respects. It is essential to continuously enhance the security and initiative of development, and foster a global value chain with a worldwide perspective and inclusive mindset.

Titled New Models Leading New Development: Beijing’s Practice in Integrated Development of “Culture-Tourism-City-People-Industry”, Mr. Li Zhong analyzed through specific cases that scientific and technological innovation has become the core driving force for urban growth and the construction of urban competitiveness, with the key to such innovation lying in young people. To retain young tech workers, a city needs to become interesting through culture and tourism. Therefore, under the new urban competition rules, Beijing’s construction of a scientific and technological innovation center should embrace the innovative development philosophy of “Culture-Tourism-City-People-Industry”, using “culture and tourism” to empower urban sci-tech innovation.

Alumni Roundtable Forum

In the alumni roundtable forum session, moderated by alumnus Xu Dianlong, four outstanding alumni representatives engaged in a sincere, frank, and insightful exchange.

Zhou Jian, Class of 1981, School of Economics and Management

Sunny Mindset, Striving Attitude

Ms. Zhou Jian, a 1981 alumnus of the School of Economics and Management, Director of China International Tendering Co., Ltd., and Senior Engineer, recalled her study experience at Tongji’s School of Economics and Management. She mentioned that this experience gave her the confidence to choose a career and the belief that “I can do anything well”. She encouraged alumni to maintain a sunny mindset and a striving attitude.

Zhang Hao, Class of 1990, Department of Environment

China’s Development Challenges Require Solutions through Development

Mr. Zhang Hao, a 1990 alumnus of the Department of Environment and Deputy Chief Representative of the Asian Development Bank in China, spoke from his work field and daily practice. He noted that China is still a developing country, and many challenges it faces must be addressed through development. Mr. Zhang also shared the Asian Development Bank’s vocational education loan project in Guizhou, pointing out that the project successfully boosted household incomes and local economies, providing reference for other countries.

Luo Nengjun, Class of 2003, Management Science and Engineering

Contributing to Smart City Construction

Mr. Luo Nengjun, a 2003 alumnus majoring in Management Science and Engineering and Deputy General Manager of CITIC Hey 业 Investment Co., Ltd., outlined the development of commercial real estate through his professional experience. He mentioned that commercial real estate once focused on development while neglecting operation and management, ignoring its true value. His team has enhanced commercial real estate management value through digital, intelligent, and technological means to support smart city construction, expressing hope for more practical exchanges with alumni.

Li Zhong, Class of 1988, Department of Architecture

The Indispensability of Humanistic Literacy

Mr. Li Zhong, a 1988 alumnus of the Department of Architecture, Founder, Chairman and General Manager of Huagao Laisi International Real Estate Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and an expert in urban development strategy, suggested from the perspective of talent cultivation that the School should appropriately increase practical and humanities courses. This aims to cultivate students’ historical and developmental perspectives and enhance their comprehensive literacy.

Professor Xie En, Deputy Dean (in Charge of Work) of the School noted in his concluding speech that Tongji University has a unique temperament, the essence of which can be inferred from the topics discussed by professors, guests, and alumni at today’s event. Professor Cheng Guoqiang addressed food security, Professor Liu Xinghua explored development strategies, and Alumnus Li Zhong discussed wealth creation under constrained conditions—all issues directly related to people’s well-being. This fully demonstrates that Tongji members uphold the philosophy of “applying knowledge to practical affairs,” consistently practicing the fine tradition of “marching with the motherland and serving society through science and education.”

Professor Xie further emphasized that Tongji University pursues scientific excellence to the extreme while also striving for artistic perfection. The perfect integration of these two pursuits forges the unique temperament of Tongji people. The forum has gathered many outstanding alumni, fully showcasing their remarkable achievements. It is hoped that everyone will meet and communicate more frequently in the future, achieving synchronous development between alumni and the School!