On September 11, Beijing Forestry University held an opening ceremony to welcome its incoming graduates. 6524 graduates embark on a new journey at the University in 2023.

Dressed in customized BFU logo uniforms, the students formed a "BFU" pattern on the playground, implying that they will go forward together with BFU with one heart and mind.

The opening ceremony was attended by university leaders, school and department heads,  faculties, family members of incoming students, and all 2023 freshmen. 

Wang Hongyuan, secretary of the Party Committee of the university, presented books to the freshmen representatives. President An Lizhe made a speech entitled "Study hard to build on past achievements and strive for new progress, stand up to undertake the great cause of ecological civilization construction". Representative teachers, students, freshmen and alumni made speeches respectively.

In An Lizhe's speech, he looked back on the 70-odd years of BFU's history of contributing to ecological civilization construction as well as economic and social development of China. And he articulated three hopes for new students. First, he hoped the students adhere to the lofty ambition of serving the construction of ecological civilization, be a firm believer in the idea of Xi's Thought on Ecological Civilization, cultivate morality, and distinguish right from wrong; Second, he hoped that students will accumulate professional knowledge of ecological civilization construction to promote the idea of man and nature coexisting in harmony. Third, he hoped that students will actively participate in the great practice of ecological civilization construction. He encouraged 2023 freshmen to take root in the fertile soil of BFU, establish the ambition of striving for ecological civilization construction.

Sun Lixin, Vice-Chairman of University Council, pointed out that the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature has endowed BFU with a new historical mission, and every BFUer has the responsibility to carry on the cause to make new contributions to the construction of a beautiful China. She hoped that the new students will strengthen their ideals and beliefs, develop the ability to think and act boldly and achieve good results with their high ground-breaking vigor and accumulated tenacity, and inspire their youth in the vivid practice of building ecological civilization in the new era.

Feng Yue, professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing University of Chemical Technology and winner of the National Natural Science Foundation of China Outstanding Youth Science Fund, shared his working experiences in BFU, hoping that freshmen can strive for their real interests and reap what they sow.

Another faculty representative, Huang Huaguo, a professor from Forestry College, hoped that the majority of freshmen can transform and upgrade their identity to get refined internally and externally while getting a strategic long-term view to take the initiative to undertake the task of ecological civilization construction.

Zhou Lijun, a student representative, the head of the "Ecological Civilization" doctoral student lecturer group, and a PhD student in Landscape architecture of the class 2022, suggested that freshmen should embrace the times and establish lofty ideals to contribute wisdom to the construction of ecological civilization and the construction of a beautiful China.

Li Siqi from College of Soil and Water Conservation, spoke on behalf of all the new students of class 2023. She shared her experience with BFU and called on the students to take the initiative to integrate personal development into the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation.

After the flag-raising ceremony and following the grand sound of “Ode to the Motherland” , 8 students held the national flag, walked to the president's platform, and solemnly handed over the national flag to the 8 freshmen representatives. The handed over national flag is the one raised in Tian'anmen Square on October 16, 2021, the centennial year of the founding of the Party and the School Day of BFU, which was presented to BFU by the Tian'anmen Administrative Committee. This national flag was handed over to the new students of Class 2023 who carry the hopes of living up to the expectations of the Party and the people, and carrying forward the spirit of BFU and walking on a new journey of serving the country.

 

 

At the opening ceremony, university authorities wear university badges for new student representatives. They become a member of BFU the moment they wear the badge. The badge represents the identity of BFUers.