Peking University, July 31, 2023: On July 30, 2023, Peking University (PKU) held a momentous ceremony at the Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center, where the University bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Professor Aiji Tanaka, the president of Waseda University. The ceremony was hosted by Wang Bo, the vice president and provost of Peking University.

Gong Qihuang

At the ceremony, PKU President Gong Qihuang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by Professor Tanaka. President Gong emphasized the significance of Waseda University as a crucial partner to Peking University. He lauded Professor Tanaka as a globally renowned scholar and educator who has been unwavering in his commitment to fostering international education at the highest level. President Gong also expressed his hope for even stronger cooperation between the two institutions, thereby fostering educational, scientific, and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan.

Subsequently, President Gong Qihuang officially conferred the honorary doctorate upon Professor Aiji Tanaka by turning the tassel, which drew loud applause and warm admiration from the present teachers and students.

Aiji Tanaka

Professor Tanaka then took the stage to express his heartfelt gratitude to Peking University for this prestigious recognition. Adressing a gathering of over 100 teachers and students, he acknowledged Peking University's position as not only a top university in China but also as a globally esteemed institution. Professor Tanaka fondly recalled how students from Waseda University visit PKU each year to immerse themselves in its profound humanistic and scientific atmosphere. In conclusion, he encouraged young students to strive for excellence during their college years, ultimately leading to better service to society and contributing to the advancement of humanity.

Hao Ping (left), Aiji Tanaka (center), and Gong Qihuang at the ceremony

Concluding the ceremony, Professor Hao Ping, chair of the Peking University Council, presented a gift to Professor Aiji Tanaka on behalf of Peking University. 

Group photo

This event holds great significance for PKU as it coincides with PKU’s "Global Engagement Year." It's noteworthy that in June 2023, President Gong Qihuang visited Waseda University, which culminated in the decision to establish high-level cooperation in various fields. Thus, the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony for Professor Aiji Tanaka marks a significant step in cementing the bilateral cooperation between the two distinguished institutions.

*This story is part of the special coverage of PKU’s “Global Engagement Year.”
 

Written by: Fu Jiaqi
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Source: PKU News (Chinese)