“Reading is not only a crucial means for individuals to grow and progress, but also a vital way for civilization to pass on from one generation to the next. Reading can enlighten the mind, refine character, and nurture virtues. In a congratulatory letter to the first National Reading Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote: ‘Reading is an important way for human beings to acquire knowledge, wisdom, and cultivate morality. It can inspire people with thoughts, establish lofty ideals, and noble character.’ I believe that reading allows us to set up ideals and beliefs, clarify the direction of life, think about what kind of person we should strive to become, thereby setting the first button of life firmly in place.”
“General Secretary Xi Jinping read Goethe’s Faust during his time in Liangjiahe. Decades later, when former German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited China, General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned, ‘I read Faust when I was a young man,’ which brought the two countries’ diplomatic relations closer. That’s why I have always believed that reading is something you have to do more of, because it will come into play one day. Reading can illuminate our lives, help us seize opportunities, and become the greatest energy to support our progress.”
“The greatest inspiration given by the story of General Secretary Xi Jinping is that we should love reading, and read good books. We need to read more to absorb more knowledge and strength; we need to read good books with positive energy, constantly consolidating our firm beliefs; we need to insist on reading to achieve a qualitative transformation from quantity to quality in the process of perseverance, in which we could enrich our thoughts and make progression.
“ ‘Even after thousands of striking, it stands strong and firm in the gale from all directions.’ General Secretary Xi Jinping has quoted the poetic verses of Zheng Banqiao many times on different occasions, which is of great inspiration and guidance to young people today. ‘Thousands of striking’ means that when faced with all kinds of difficulties, one should adhere to his ideals and beliefs, never forgetting the original intention; ‘in the gale from all directions’ means that one should be ready to meet all kinds of trials and tribulations in his study, work and life. It is to say that the young generation in the new era should always stay down-to-earth and ambitious.”
“When we are lost, we might as well turn to books and see how the youth of the May Fourth Movement rallied and called out; we might as well take a look at the plaque above the gate of the Whampoa Military Academy, on both sides of which is written, ‘For rank and wealth, please go elsewhere. Being mortally afraid of death, you are mistakenly admitted to this gate’; and we might as well look at how General Secretary Xi spent his seven years as asent-down youth. Reading has strengthened my faith and encourages me to consider how to become a thoughtful, idealistic, and determined youth of the new era, willing to endure hardship and shoulder responsibilities, progressing in the journey of the young generation.”
On the afternoon of April 23rd, at the reading club of Guizhou University named “Incorporating Learning into Practice, Apply Ancient Wisdom to the Present -- Xi Jinping’s Quotation ‘The New Generation Soul Casting Project’ ”, Yang Wei, Secretary of the Party Committee of the University, Ouyang Qiansen, Chairman of Guizhou Literature Federation and Chairman of Guizhou Writers Association, Tan Dexing, Dean of the College of Literature, Peng Xingtao, representative of teachers, and Gao Ruifang representative of students shared their personal insights on reading with the teachers and students present. They illustrated their point of view in form of story-telling through four chapters: Faith, Encouragement, Self-cultivation and Diligence. In these chapters, they elaborated on “how to strengthen ideals and beliefs through reading, demonstrating new trends and achievements”, “what are the good experiences and methods of reading”, “how to cultivate one’s mind and improve one’s character through reading classics”, and “how to test what has been learned in practice, and better achieve the goal of making reading take root and bear fruit in serving the people”.
After the sharing, the students and guests present had a hot discussion on what books young college students should read, how to read, and how to acquire life experience through reading. The guests suggested that young college students should read more good books, read extensively rather than fragmentarily, read books written by people with faith, read thoroughly before reading selectively, apply what is learned and make the results of reading useful to society. They also emphasized the importance of integrating knowledge and action, closely linking personal growth with the needs of the country, and advancing fearlessly to contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
A video clip about General Secretary Xi Jinping’ reading and that of students reciting passages from Xi Jinping’s Quotation were played in the reading club.
Yang Wei, Secretary of the Party Committee of GZU, Luo Changjiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of GZU, and Vice Presidents Zhang Dalin and Chen Xiangsheng attended the reading club. In addition, the leaders of the Party Committee Office, President’s Office, Publicity Department, Student Work Department, Youth League Committee, Academic Affairs Office, Humanities and Social Sciences Office, Library, Publishing House, Yangming College, and College of Literature, as well as representatives of teachers and students from Yangming College and College of Medicine, attended the reading club.
Before the reading club, Yang Wei, Luo Changjiang, Zhang Dalin, Chen Xiangsheng, Ouyang Qiansen, and Liu Bo, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Guizhou Xinhua Bookstore Co., Ltd., visited the “Xishan Study” located in the dual-use auditorium of the South Campus. According to Zhang Dalin, the joint construction of the “Xishan Study” by Guizhou University and Xinhua Bookstore is crucial to boost the cultivation of campus culture, which aims to carry forward the revolutionary spirit, create a scholarly campus, and promote nationwide reading. Yang Wei recommended the book Red Guizhou University in the “Xishan Study”, hoping that students can learn more aboutthe rich “red history” of the university, pass down its revolutionary heritage, and inspire aspirations for a future rooted in these values.
Editor: Li Xuefei
Chief Editor: Pang Aizhong
Senior Editor: Li Xufeng
Translator: Wang Xiaomin
