Dr. Xiao Xi,
Dean of School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University
Dean of Institute of National Development and Security Studies, Jilin University
Changchun City, China
Date: June 18th, 2022
To the Class of 2022, faculty, staff, and parents:
Good morning!
Time flies, here we are the proud moment of the graduation season again. Witnessing young eagles of SIPA are about to set sail and soar in your own sky, though unwilling to say farewell, but happiness, movement and blessing fulfill my heart. As is often that I mentioned, it is a great fortune for a teacher to acquire the world’s talents and cultivate them. Your growth and development is felicity of all staffs and faculties, as well as the blessedness of SIPA. On behalf of all SIPA staffs and faculties, I hereby congratulate the great class of 2022, including 39 undergraduate students, 10 graduate students and 28 international students, for completing your education successfully and start new chapters of your lives. Congratulations!
This graduation season is special and difficult for you. A pandemic in Changchun city since March may have disrupted all graduation plans. Many students did not take their graduation trips or come back to the familiar campus, then have to say goodbye to JLU and Changchun city in a rush. But this graduation season is also memorable. In the past few months, SIPAers fought against the epidemic together, and left countless moving memories. I still remember those who rushed to fight the epidemic without hesitation after receiving orders, sweat on whose face under the protective suit, those who voluntarily to distribute food supplies to your classmates and colleagues, and those who abide by epidemic prevention regulations with the big picture in mind during the lockdown of the university. I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the staff and students for their perseverance and dedication during the fight against COVID-19. Let’s applaud for all the frontline workers, as well as for those who are brave, firm, calm and optimistic when facing the epidemic.
I think this pandemic has also taught our graduates of Diplomacy and International Relations a valuable final lesson. As John T. Rourke said, “We are all part of, and affected by the great tide of global affairs.” Pandemic and the great change that unseen in the past century are no longer just the subject of class presentation, we have experienced the uncertainty of current world that has a real impact on our daily life, employment situation and future choices. The world is undergoing great changes in power, structure, rules, ideas and discourse. China faces new and severe challenges in both development and security. Stepping out of the campus, you will face an uncertain world. Today, I want to grant you a few affectionate words as you are setting sail to the uncertain world.
I hope you will continue to seek certainty in this uncertain world.
Firstly, to uphold the certainty of moral pursuit in an uncertain world. Once Kant said that “There are two things, and the more deeply and persistently I think about them, the more lasting the admiration and awe they evoke in my mind. One is the vast and splendid starry sky above us, and the other is the lofty moral law in our hearts”. I hope that no matter what difficulties you encounter, you should always be an upright and kind person who can light up this uncertain world with a heart of awe, gratitude, compassion and clarity, because moral principles will eventually lead us to the correct direction. I hope that you can cherish the grand affairs of the nation and take the highest moral belief and sincere national identity feelings as the criteria and pursuit of your whole life. As the gurgling water drops will not dry up until they flow into the vast sea, and the surging youth will be most powerful only when they are integrated into the great cause of national rejuvenation. I firmly believe that you will also achieve yourselves in building the nation and the collective.
Secondly, believe in the power of persistent thinking in an uncertain world. Diplomacy is a discipline that facing the world, we reflect on the evolution of international relations history, discuss theories that explain international relations and analyze the trend of foreign policies of various countries, all of which ultimately point to the reflection of the world. Kissinger said in World Order that “a generation will be judged by whether it has confronted the biggest and most significant issues of human society”. Although some of you may no longer engage in diplomatic studies and research after graduation, I also hope that you can always observe the world from the perspective of diplomacy discipline, namely, view the world with critical thinking, think about the relationship between personal destiny and the future of the country and the well-being of the world, and utilize unique insights to face the uncertainties of the world. The spirit of the university lies in exploring truth, arousing the mind and shaping the behavior. I hope that you will always remain curious about the world, internalize the spirit of the university in your hearts, inherit knowledge, explore and grow in this uncertain world.
Finally, maintain the vitality of tenacity and optimism in an uncertain world. In his speech commemorating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Youth League, President Xi Jinping asked the young generation to “inspire the surging tide of national rejuvenation with youthful energy and creativity, and strive for a better China with wisdom and sweat”. In an uncertain world, the strength of youth with tenacity and optimism is needed. You may discover that the world is not perfect, but “Everything has its strong and weak points, everything in the world is not perfect, and the wisdom of human beings has its moments of uncertainty”. I hope you can accept imperfect yourselves, the imperfect others, and the imperfect world. Be resilient in setbacks, be optimistic when facing challenges, and be courageous in uncertainty. I hope you will face the difficulties with faith, courage, wisdom and patience.
Dear kids, one more thing is certain, that is, you are JLUers and a SIPAers, and we are fortunate enough to have chosen each other to succeed and grow together. Thanks to our concerted efforts, SIPA has achieved countless successes. Last October, the Institute of National Development and Security Studies were awarded the first batch of doctoral programs of national first-level discipline in National Security studies. Just a few days ago, Diplomacy was selected as one of the national first-class undergraduate major. This marks a marvelous breakthrough in discipline construction and undergraduate major construction, SIPA has entered a new phase of development. I am sure you are very proud of it. SIPA will always be your home, where keeps the imprint of your youth, and the place where your dreams began...When stepping out of the university, you should remember the JLU spirit of “Human beings are taller than mountains and feet are longer than roads”, and the SIPA spirit of “world vision, national identity feelings”. These are your wealth, so that you have a certain confidence when facing an uncertain world.
Dear SIPAers, from this moment on, your new world is coming. Let Jilin University be the habitat of your soul, and let memories of School of International and Public Affairs be your strength to move forward. May you have great love to discover the world. May you fly high and move forward bravely in the future!
I appreciate all your attendance and participation of the ceremony. congratulations again to you and best wishes to all.
