Tsinghua University recently hosted a significant symposium to commemorate the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's inspection visit in 2021, just ahead of the institution's 110th anniversary celebration. Held on April 19, 2026, at the iconic West Gymnasium—the very site where Xi engaged with students and faculty five years prior—the event underscored the university's unwavering commitment to the directives outlined in his important speech. This gathering brought together over 110 participants, including high-ranking officials from the State Sports General Administration, Beijing Sports Bureau, and Tsinghua's leadership, highlighting the event's national importance in the realm of higher education.

The symposium served as a platform to reflect on progress made in aligning educational practices with Xi's vision for cultivating well-rounded socialist builders and successors. Discussions focused on integrating sports into holistic student development, fostering innovation, and contributing to China's broader goals of national rejuvenation. Reports from various departments illustrated tangible advancements, from enhanced student physical fitness programs to breakthroughs in competitive athletics and interdisciplinary research.

Recalling Xi Jinping's 2021 Inspection and Speech

Five years ago, on April 19, 2021, President Xi Jinping visited Tsinghua University, touring facilities like the Academy of Arts and Design, Imaging and Intelligent Technology Lab, and the West Gymnasium. During a symposium with faculty and students there, he delivered a pivotal address emphasizing the construction of world-class universities with Chinese characteristics. Xi stressed that higher education must prioritize moral education (立德树人), produce top-tier talent, drive original innovation, and promote international cooperation while serving national prosperity, ethnic revival, and public well-being.

Xi highlighted Tsinghua's storied history since 1911, rooted in patriotism and excellence, and called on youth to 'stand tall in ambitions, clarify virtues, achieve great talents, and shoulder great responsibilities' (立大志、明大德、成大才、担大任). He advocated for breaking disciplinary silos, bolstering basic research, and ensuring universities produce 'masters' capable of addressing global challenges. This speech has since become a cornerstone for China's higher education reforms, guiding institutions toward comprehensive student development encompassing intellect, morality, physique, aesthetics, and labor.

Key Attendees and Symposium Proceedings

The 2026 symposium was presided over by Tsinghua Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Sports Committee Director Guo Yong. Prior to the main session, Party Secretary Qiu Yong met with State Sports General Administration Director Gao Zhidan to discuss deepening sports-education integration and innovative mechanisms. Gao later toured the North Gymnasium.

Reports were presented by key figures: Sports Department Party Secretary Liu Bo on reforms; Youth League Secretary Tang Xiao on educational practices; Men's Basketball Coach Chen Lei on high-level teams; and Winter Olympics volunteer representative Dang Zhangchi from Aerospace Engineering on service traditions. These presentations detailed five years of implementation, showcasing how Tsinghua has embedded Xi's instructions into daily operations.

Gao Zhidan's Address: Affirming Tsinghua's Sports Leadership

Gao Zhidan commended Tsinghua's achievements in soul-forging education, universal sports promotion, sports-education fusion, and tech empowerment. He urged the university to lead in building a sports powerhouse, deepening integration for talent cultivation, and innovating for national service. Gao pledged enhanced strategic cooperation between the administration and Tsinghua, positioning the university as a flagship in China's sports-education synergy.

This aligns with national priorities, where universities play a pivotal role in elevating physical literacy amid urbanization and academic pressures. Tsinghua's model—blending elite competition with mass participation—offers replicable strategies for other institutions.

Qiu Yong's Vision: High-Quality Sports Development

Party Secretary Qiu Yong called for continuous study of Xi's speech, advancing Tsinghua's sports initiatives. Priorities include leveraging sports for moral cultivation, developing original theories on 'sports transfer value,' and contributing to China's philosophical-social science system. He emphasized all-staff, all-student involvement, school collaborations for health promotion, and reforming elite sports talent pipelines.

Qiu linked these to Tsinghua's '15th Five-Year Plan' and reforms, aiming for global leadership while serving sports power construction. This forward-looking approach positions sports as integral to comprehensive university excellence.

Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

Achievements Across Tsinghua Departments

Beyond the central symposium, departments held targeted events. The Automation Department revisited Xi's emphasis on interdisciplinary innovation, launching the 'Purple Winter' initiative with cross-curricular programs in brain science, AI, and robotics, engaging 60% of undergrads. Youth scholars like Associate Professor Wu Jiamin have produced prolific outputs, validating homegrown talent pipelines.

The Academy of Arts and Design, under Deputy Secretary Qin Chuan, reported on art-science fusion, rural revitalization via design, and international exchanges. Exhibitions like 'New Era, New Quality, New Atmosphere' showcased post-2021 strides, with leaders like China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Vice Chairman Pan Rusheng advocating AI-era cultural philosophy rooted in Chinese traditions.

• Enhanced student fitness: Nationwide-leading metrics through '50 Years of Healthy Service to the Motherland' ethos.
• Competitive successes: Multiple national championships, Olympic contributions.
• Volunteering: Winter Olympics legacy sustained.
• Innovation: Tech-aided training, interdisciplinary sports research.

Sports-Education Fusion: A National Model

Tsinghua's 'sports-education fusion' (体教融合) exemplifies Xi's call for holistic development. Over five years, the university has universalized sports participation, achieving breakthroughs in student health metrics and elite athlete training. Initiatives include tech-driven analytics for performance and injury prevention, aligning with national 'Healthy China' goals.

Official Tsinghua report details how these efforts have produced leaders in both academia and athletics, fostering 'red and expert' (又红又专) graduates.

Broader Impact on Chinese Higher Education

Tsinghua's commemorations reflect nationwide momentum in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era application in universities. Institutions are prioritizing party leadership, moral-political education, and service to national strategies like tech self-reliance and cultural confidence.

In sports, Tsinghua's model influences policies promoting campus athletics as vitality sources. Statistics show Chinese college students' fitness rates rising 10% since 2021, with universities like Tsinghua pioneering integrations yielding dual academic-athletic talents.

Future Directions and Challenges

Looking ahead, Tsinghua eyes its '15th Five-Year Plan' with ambitions for top global status by 2030. Plans include expanded interdisciplinary sports programs, international partnerships, and AI-enhanced training. Challenges like balancing academics-sports and sustaining post-pandemic fitness persist, but Xi's directives provide clear pathways.

Qiu Yong stressed synergies with national bodies for elite pipelines, ensuring universities contribute to sports superpower ambitions by 2035.

Global Context and International Cooperation

Xi's speech advocated global exchanges for shared prosperity. Tsinghua has amplified this via Belt and Road initiatives, hosting forums blending sports, culture, and tech. Collaborations with international sports federations enhance mutual learning, positioning Chinese higher ed as a global contributor.

Xinhua coverage of 2021 speech underscores enduring relevance amid geopolitical shifts.

Photo by Herlambang Tinasih Gusti on Unsplash

Student Perspectives and Youth Responsibilities

Student reps like volunteer Dang Zhangchi embodied Xi's youth exhortation, sharing how sports-volunteering forged patriotism and resilience. Undergrads and postdocs emphasized real-world application, from AI-coached training to community health drives, aspiring to 'bloom youth in national service.'

The symposium reaffirms Tsinghua's vanguard role in Xi's educational blueprint, inspiring China's 3,000+ universities. By weaving sports into talent cultivation, Tsinghua not only honors its traditions but pioneers paths for holistic, innovative higher education fueling national dreams.