Xi urges universities to help drive China’s tech and innovation ambitions

President Xi Jinping has urged a major university to harness its interdisciplinary strengths in the humanities, sciences, engineering and medicine to support China’s national strategy, as Beijing looks to higher education institutions to help advance hi-tech development.

Xi made the remarks in a letter released on Tuesday congratulating Sichuan University on its 130th anniversary and responding to faculty members and students at the prominent public university in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

“I hope you will strive to play a pioneering role in supporting national strategies in the new era and contribute to China’s efforts to build itself into a strong country in education, science and technology, and talent,” Xi said in the letter, according to state-owned Xinhua News Agency.

His message comes as Beijing steps up efforts to position universities as central pillars of innovation. In guidelines issued earlier this month on reforming China’s vast higher education system, Beijing urged institutions to develop distinct roles aligned with different national priorities.