Justin Yifu Lin's Commencement Address at PKU before Joining World Bank
Apr 18-2013
On May 31st, 2008, the 2008 commencement of China Center for Economic Research (CCER) and Beijing International MBA (BiMBA) was held at the Centenary Hall of Peking University. For the last time as Director of CCER, Justin Yifu Lin, Professor of CCER and Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank, delivered a speech at the ceremony and awarded the diploma to each of the graduates. On the very afternoon, he would fly to the Washington-based head office of World Bank for his new job. Professor Zhou Qiren, a famous economist, will succeed him as Director of CCER. Meanwhile, Professor Hai Wen, Vice President of Peking University, who also attended the ceremony, will resign from his post as Deputy Director of CCER.
Justin Yifu Lin has been a wonder in the eyes of the students of Peking University. He was supposed to assume his post at World Bank in early May, but he decided to postpone it in order to complete his lectures for this semester at Peking University. Only on the night before last could he finally conclude these lectures. Accordingly, the commencement ceremony, normally held in June, was advanced to yesterday this year.
In the morning, Justin Yifu Lin appeared in academic dress and led the faculty of the center to the Centenary Hall. The more than 800 graduates all stood up applauding enthusiastically, with some of them hailing cheerfully at the same time. Instead of presiding over the ceremony as he had always done in past years, Professor Lin was the first teacher to give a speech at the ceremony this year. At the end of his speech, the students gave three long rounds of applauses. Again and again, Justin Yifu Lin bowed his goodbye to the students.
Though he must hurry to catch the airplane to go to World Bank that afternoon, Justin Yifu Lin still gladly agreed to take a picture with each of the graduates of CCER and BiMBA. Getting very excited, the more than 800 students formed a long line and came onto the stage one by one, and the whole process took more than 2 hours. “These days, all of us are rushing to take a picture with Professor Lin. He has almost smiled his face stiff,” teased some of his students.
Justin Yifu Lin's "Graduation" Feelings
"The commencement ceremony today is for you, and also for me. Recently, just like you, I have been counting down the days with complex feelings. Each day I would ask myself how I would feel about my graduation, and what the world outside Peking University is like."
The prologue of his speech at the commencement
"My responsibility to my nation has been transformed into part of my spirit."
Speaking of the significance of graduation
"China developed fast in the past 30 years, and will continue this trend in the coming 10, 30 and even 50 years, which presented the students with both opportunities and challenges."
Mentioning economic environment
"Despite such material basis and people's wholehearted efforts, still so many people have suffered."
Speaking of the Wenchuan Earthquake
"As long as there is still one hungry person in the world, we feel hungry; as long as there is still one poor person in the world, we are poor.
[Source: Beijing Times]
