This year marked the 120th anniversary of the establishment of Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU). Founded in 1896, the university has made significant contributions to the traffic and transportation field, especially in rail transportation.

On Sept 9, the Global University Presidents Summit held in the university unveiled the celebrations for the 120th Anniversary.

The Global University Presidents Summit is held in Beijing Jiaotong University on Sept 9. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

As an important part of the celebrations, the summit eyes higher education and scientific research in the context of the One Belt and One Road Initiative in the big data era. Representatives of 48 universities, including 33 overseas universities, will participate in the event and share their insights.

Ning Bin, president of BJTU made a keynote speech at the summit's opening ceremony on building a world-class university in the big data era.

In his speech, Ning explained how to improve the university by quoting Chinese eminent sociologist Fei Xiaotong's idea on how different civilizations can coexist. These ideas included respecting and cherishing one's own beauty, appreciating beauty in others,valuing diversity and integrity, hopefully leading to harmony and unity.

Ning detailed this idea by taking an example from BJTU's own experience. BJTU has been providing theoretical, technological and human resourcesto support the development of the country and its industry. It is the feature or "own beauty" of BJTU. Meanwhile, it insists on cooperative development.

Ning mentioned the importance of forming alliances with other universities in the era of big data,adding that BJTU has established the Association of Rectors of Transport Universities of Russia and China that consists 42 Chinese universities and 18 Russian universities, to name just one example.

Ning was clear that he felt cooperating with other universities and institutions would result in mutual benefits for everyone.

The counterparts of Ning Bin, including Zhang Jie, president of Shanghai Jiaotong University; Xu Fei, president of Southwest Jiaotong University; Frank Chang, president of the National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; as well as the presidents of the UK's Lancaster University and Canada’s Dalhousie University;sharedkeynote speeches on the One Belt One Road Initiative andbig data.

Xu Tao, the director-general of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education, was on hand and addressed the ceremony.