During his visit to Tsinghua University on April 19, 2021, President Xi Jinping stressed that amid the national rejuvenation within the wider context of once-in-a-century changes in the world, China’s higher education institutions should focus on the country's top priorities, fulfill their duties and contribute to the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people.

On May 28, Xi addressed the general assembly of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the tenth national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. He noted that research universities should better align their objectives with national goals and strategic tasks, explore new frontiers and make breakthroughs in key technologies. Advances should be made in building systems of academic programs, research and discourse with Chinese characteristics, so as to cultivate more outstanding talent. Xi’s speech charts the course for OUC on its way to build a world-class university that takes root in China and provides the fundamental guidelines.

As the first modern university founded by the Chinese people in Shandong province, OUC has seen it as its mission to “impart profound knowledge, cultivate leading talent, and meet the needs of the country”. Over the years, we have been dedicated to pursuing academic excellence and exploring the ocean for the benefit of the country. We have made historic contributions to socioeconomic development of the country, especially to the maritime industry.

China is in the critical transition period between the two centenary goals. It implements the national rejuvenation strategy within the wider context of once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world. As a university that facilitates important national undertakings, OUC is faced with unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

OUC implements the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and China’s Ministry of Education. Party history learning is set out to carry forward the revolutionary spirit. We integrated Party history learning with our endeavor to build a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. In line with the 14th Five-Year Plan, we strive to be forward-looking in our strategic layout. With a sense of mission, entrepreneurship and the spirit of reform and innovation, we see it as our fundamental task to nurture a new generation of capable young people with good virtues, and address core technological issues to facilitate China’s effort of becoming a strong maritime country. We solve the most pressing difficulties and problems that are of great concern to the teachers and students and make sustainable achievements that benefit all.

At the beginning of this semester, OUC held a symposium on serving major national strategies and regional socioeconomic development. It is a bounden responsibility and the sure path for OUC to serve major national strategies and regional development. Bestowed with unique advantages, OUC should seize opportunities and achieve its intended objectives. We should leverage the strengths of Qingdao and Shandong, serving the country while alwaysmaintaining a global vision. With clear working objectives, we will focus on key areas while never failing to see the big picture, and put in place holistic plans and elaborate designs.

The trumpet of building China into a strong maritime country has sounded, so has the trumpet of a strong maritime city. With its mission of cultivating leading talent for China's marine undertakings, OUC will remain true to its original aspiration. We will align our work with the efforts of making China a global leader in education, talent, science and technology and marine-related fields. We will work to serve the Belt and Road Initiative, and meet the needs of regional socioeconomic development. By leveraging our advantages in human resources and technology, OUC makes steady strides towards becoming a world-class university with distinctive features, making new and greater contributions to the making of a strong maritime country and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.