Inaugural Conference of HUTB - Xiangjiang Laboratory "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance Held

2024-12-12

On the afternoon of December 10, the inaugural conference of the HUTB - Xiangjiang Laboratory "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance was held in the Zhiyuan Lecture Hall on the sixth floor of Xiangjiang Building. Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee, Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang Ling, Vice President of HUTB, Gan Dejian, member of the CPC HUTB Committee and Vice President of HUTB, and Liu Guoquan, Executive Deputy Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, attended the event. The ceremony was attended by the heads of relevant functional departments and secondary schools, the heads of relevant departments from Xiangjiang Laboratory, leaders of cultural and technological teams within the alliance, and heads of sports clubs. The ceremony was hosted by Vice President Gan Dejian.

At the meeting, Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee, Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech. She pointed out that the establishment of the HUTB - Xiangjiang Laboratory "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance is a major step in strengthening the leadership of Party building in the "Big Ideological and Political Education" and promoting the deep integration of culture and technology. This is an important event in advancing the construction of an innovative first-class university and another milestone in showcasing the university's unique characteristics and empowering innovation and development. Currently, the innovative first-class university we are working to build encompasses "six first-classes," namely: "first-class innovative talent," "first-class faculty team," "first-class innovative capabilities," "first-class spiritual and cultural environment," "first-class governance system," and "first-class environmental conditions." Previously, the university successfully held the "Towards 2035: Integrating Innovation and Future" Science and Culture Expo, launched major "Culture + Technology" key projects, hosted the Campus Music Season, and conducted explorations in the cultivation of top innovative talent. This time, the formal establishment of the "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance is a further deepening and expansion of efforts, and can be seen as a step taken in the right direction, which will undoubtedly gather momentum and strengthen its impact.

Secretary Chen Xiaohong made three key recommendations for the development of the alliance: 1. Focus on building a first-class university, strengthen Party leadership in guiding "Big Ideological and Political Education," and integrate culture and technology to demonstrate new responsibilities; 2. Stay at the forefront, highlight the unique strengths and characteristics of the university, and integrate culture and technology to create a new atmosphere; 3. Act with determination and practical effort, fully unleash development potential, and integrate culture and technology to achieve new results. She hopes that the teams and clubs within the alliance will identify and solidify their development directions, create more and better innovative and iconic new achievements, and further enhance the construction of the "Seven HUTBs" with fresh momentum. This will continuously increase the sense of achievement and happiness among faculty and students. The aim is to transform the alliance into a distinctive brand that empowers both the university and the Xiangjiang Laboratory, promoting the integrated development of "culture + technology." This will contribute wisdom and strength to the building of an innovative first-class university and to the development of Hunan's chapter in Chinese-style modernization.

Vice President Zhang Ling read out the establishment documents for the HUTB — Xiangjiang Laboratory "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance, the establishment of the university's sports clubs, and the appointment documents.

On behalf of the CPC HUTB Committee, Secretary Chen Xiaohong presented plaques to the cultural and technological organizations affiliated with the alliance, as well as to the university's sports clubs. The heads of the respective organizations received the plaques. The scene was filled with warm applause. The plaque presentation included 24 cultural and technological organizations, such as the Xiangjiang Symphony Orchestra, Changyin Teachers' Choir, Changyang AI Music Appreciation Group, Changyi Calligraphy and Painting Group, and the AI Large Model Research and Development Center, as well as 9 sports clubs, including the badminton club.

Xiao Ming, head of the Xiangjiang Symphony Orchestra, Yuan Yige, head of the Changyang AI Music Appreciation Group and Director of the Digital Marketing and Intelligent Decision-Making R&D Center, and Li Dongqi, head of the tennis club, spoke as representatives of the alliance organizations. They expressed that, under the strong leadership of the CPC HUTB Committee, they will fully leverage the technological innovation advantages of the Xiangjiang Laboratory to jointly build the alliance as a cradle of innovation. They aim to make culture more captivating through technology and technology more human-centered through culture, polishing the new brand, creating new hubs, and striving to become pioneers in the integrated development of culture and technology.

During the ceremony, the Xiangjiang Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble performed pieces such as "Jasmine Flower" and "Alishan Girl," while young teachers from the Changge Vocal Ensemble sang songs including "My Motherland and Me," "Gold Shuttle and Silver Shuttle," "Hawthorn Tree," and "Young Friends Come and Join Together." The attendees joined in a chorus, sharing the beautiful and melodious music and passionate singing to collectively wish for the HUTB - Xiangjiang Laboratory "Culture + Technology" Integrated Development Alliance to develop its unique features and achieve brilliance. They also extended their best wishes for a brighter future for HUTB and Xiangjiang Laboratory.

(Written by Zhang Gaoyang and Li Leyi and photo by Tu Hua, Li Ya and Gong Ziyue)