Chinese President Jiang Zemin called on faculties and students of Tsinghua University, one of the top universities in China, to build the university into a first-class one in the world.

Jiang Zemin made the remarks at a grand ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of Tsinghua University Sunday.

Jiang said he hopes the students become great achievers with noble ideals and those who love their motherland and love the people.

The president said Tsinghua University has fostered a great number of talented personnel who have made contributions to the national scientific and education development.

Jiang said, a world first-rate university should become a center for spreading splendid traditional culture and introducing advanced science and technology, and a major cradle of new knowledge, new ideas and new theories.

Jiang said the prosperity of the Chinese nation requires the fostering of hundreds of thousands gifted graduates and universities should share the responsibilities.

Jiang Zemin also made a short fact-finding tour of Tsinghua. He visited a science and technology achievement exhibition of Tsinghua University which exhibits major discoveries in hi-tech fields such as information technology, nuclear technology, life science, new materials and the environment.

(Xinhua 04/29/2001)