YNU inherits precious letter from its former leader

When senior municipal official Zhang Jianwei recently presented his parents' original diplomas to Yunnan University, or YNU – located in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province – he gave their alma mater a pleasant surprise.

Before the donation, Zhang found a secret in his father's graduation certificate – a warm note of encouragement from Zhou Baozhong, a famous general during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and who became a leading politician and the first president of YNU after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The handwritten encouragement from former YNU president Zhou Baozhong, dated Sept 24, 1953. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Zhou was also vice-chairman of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government. In his words of encouragement, he mentioned the need to cherish time, exercise, love the motherland and embody internationalism.

"This year marks the 120th anniversary of Zhou's birth," said Zhang. "He is the pride of the Yunnan province and deserves to be respected and remembered," he added.

Zhang said he had gained a deeper understanding of Zhou Baozhong after donating his parents' belongings.

Zhang said YNU was an important university in modern China and had trained a formidable number of outstanding people. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the university underwent especially earth-shaking developments and changes.

The YNU archives director Li Huaiyu said YNU has long solicited items from its old alumni to preserve and pass on the university's history.

The items donated by Zhang were kept in the archives, which Li said were precious historical memories of YNU.