The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures celebrated its 85th anniversary in the Reception Hall of Main Building on April 16. Hu Heping, Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Committee of the University, and Xie Weihe, Vice President of the University, attended the celebration.

In his speech, Mr. Hu praised the Department for the efforts it has made on teaching and research over the years, as well as its contribution in training students of the whole university. He expressed his wish that the Department would continue working hard to train more top talents on foreign languages and literatures, and produce more top-level researches.

Professor Liu Shisheng, Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures and Professor Wang Ning, Director of the Department’s Academic Committee, introduced the history and fruits of the Department. Other speakers included Jin Li, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University; Cheng Chaoxiang, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University; Xu Yuanchong, the 1938 alumnus of the Department and translator; Luo Lisheng, Director of the Office of International Affairs, Tsinghua; and Li Qiang, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua. They reviewed the history and the academic tradition of the Department, and wished the Department would carry on the fine tradition into the future, and train more talented individuals for China's modernization.

Over 160 individuals attended the celebration, including people from relevant Departments and offices of Tsinghua University, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Foreign Languages of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Renmin University, University of International Business and Economics, and other peer universities in China; alumni, journalists from a number of domestic press and media, and staff and students of the Department.