On June 12, Li Xiting, Chairman of Mindray, donated 106.8 million RMB to his alma mater, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in his own name, and established the "Li Xiting Fund", which will focus on the cultivation, introduction of high-end talents, and high-tech innovative research and development, etc. This donation is the largest single personal donation received by USTC since its founding.
At the donation ceremony, Shu Gequn, Secretary of the Party Committee of USTC and Chairman of the Education Foundation, signed a donation agreement with Mr. Li on behalf of the university, and awarded Mr. Li a donation card and donation certificate. Bao Xinhe, principal and president of the Alumni Association, presented Mr. Li with a satellite model of the quantum communication "Mozi".
" USTC not only gave me knowledge, but also taught me how to be a person and do things.."
In the morning, Mr. Li and his entourage first visited the history museum of USTC together with Shu Gequn, Bao Xinhe and other university leaders. Sixty-two years since its establishment, USTC has witnessed the great changes and vicissitudes of the times. Physicists Yan Jici, Zhao Zhongyao, mathematicians Hua Luogeng, Guan Zhaozhi, Chen Jingrun, etc., from these shining names, we can glimpse the prosperous years of its talents and stars.
Although the past has passed away, a university’s style of study has a profound impact on the cultivation of people. At the donation ceremony, Mr. Li expressed his deep gratitude to his alma mater, "In the 45 years since I left my alma mater, I have always been proud of USTC.' Strict scholarship, advocacy of learning, and down-to-earth' are the values of USTC that I understand. This spirit has always played an important role in my subsequent work and entrepreneurship. It not only gave me knowledge, but also taught me how to be a person and do things."
After graduating from USTC, majoring in cryogenic physics, Mr. Li became the first generation of medical device developers in China and presided over the founding of Mindray in 1991. Until today, Mindray has grown into a world-leading supplier of medical equipment and solutions. Looking back on the past, Mr. Li summed up Mindray’s hard work with the two words “hard work”, “Innovation is the gene of Mindray and the driving force for our sustainable and healthy development. I understand that innovation is a kind of hard work accumulated over time. It is a process from quantitative change to qualitative change.” This self-driving power of individuals and enterprises is precisely the subtle influence of university's spirit on him.
"Giving back to my alma mater is my unshirkable responsibility."
Returning to his alma mater, looking back on my own growth and entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Li said frankly, “I always felt that I was very lucky and caught up with a good era. If it weren’t for the 1973-year exam that allowed me to successfully enter USTC, based on my family background at the time, I would just be a farmer who plows the fields, and there would be no research, study and work opportunities for me."
In his opinion, Mindray is continuously changing as time keeps changes. "To this day, I am still full of urgency every day, constantly learning from young people, constantly learning from the times, and constantly reminding myself of the perseverance that I should have as a member of USTC."
Mr. Li said, "So far, Mindray has made a little contribution to society, and society has given us full recognition and reward. As an alumnus, it is incumbent to give back to my alma mater and support the development of the university when I am capable. I am really proud of USTC, and I hope that it can be proud of us students, and we are proud of each other."
It was the gratitude and respec that led to this donation. As early as 2010, Mr. Li donated 4.8 million RMB to USTC. From 2010 to 2018, he continued to donate nearly 30 million RMB to his alma mater for the establishment of teaching scholarships and the procurement of medical equipment for the university hospital and the first affiliated hospital. Among them, in April 2016, he donated 120 automatic external defibrillators (AED) worth 3.6 million RMB to his alma mater to rescue patients with sudden cardiac arrest and provide better life safety protection for teachers and students on the campus, making USTC the first university in China to be equipped with an AED emergency device.
"I hope this donation can contribute to the continuous introduction of talents to USTC."
Before the donation ceremony started on the day, Shu Gequn expressed a warm welcome to Mr. Li on behalf of the university and expressed his heartfelt thanks to Mr. Li for his generous donation. The donation of Mr. Li reflects the family and country sentiments of USTC alumni to feed back their alma mater and support science and education.
In the subsequent speeches, Mr. Li also expressed his deep feelings for USTC and his original intention for the donation. "USTC is an institution of higher learning that upholds science and academia. In today's relatively impetuous social environment, it still adheres to its philosophy of educating people and has achieved outstanding educational achievements. I am deeply proud of my alma mater." He said. USTC is full of talents, but its development needs more talents to join. I hope that this donation can contribute to the continuous introduction of talents to the USTC. I hope that the USTC will get better and better. As long as I have the ability, I will continue to make contributions to the construction and development of my alma mater in the future.
In this regard, the Bao Xinhe also promised that he will uphold the spirit of the university and alumni, and will truly use this donation for the introduction and training of high-end scientific and technological talents.
