On the afternoon of September 4, 2026, Vice President Professor Sun Jisheng delivered an orientation lecture on the theme of 'Cultivating Diplomatic and Foreign Affairs Talent in the New Era' to all 2026 undergraduate freshmen of the School of International Economics and the Institute of International Relations at Room 412 of the Shahe campus. The lecture was chaired by Professor Qu Bo, Director of the Institute of International Relations.

Vice President Sun Jisheng emphasized that as changes unseen in a century accelerate and China's relations with the world undergo historic changes, China has become an important stabilizing and shaping force influencing the world, which sets higher requirements for cultivating diplomatic and foreign affairs talent in the new era. Vice President Sun urged the students to firm up their ideals and convictions and to 'love the motherland, know the world, master foreign languages, excel in their majors, be cross-culturally competent, understand other countries, keep learning, and cultivate themselves well,' continuously improving their overall qualities and abilities. She also encouraged all freshmen to deeply understand the important requirements put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping for diplomatic personnel — 'loyalty to the Party, dedication to the mission, courage and skill in struggle, and strict discipline' — to keep the university motto in mind, and to cultivate themselves into pillars of talent and qualified reserve forces for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

In closing, Vice President Sun had cordial exchanges with the students on questions including the study of international relations theory, enhancing foreign affairs capabilities, policy language learning, and the development of international political linguistics.

Ou Minggang, Dean of the School of International Economics, Zeng Xiongjun, Secretary of the Party General Branch, young faculty member Li Dongdong, Zhang Meng, counselor of the Institute of International Relations, and Fan Zhenxiao, teaching secretary, also attended the lecture. This lecture was both a meaningful orientation class and an ideological and political class of rich content. The students said they would turn the gains from the lecture into momentum for progress, study diligently, cultivate character and sharpen their resolve, and strive to grow into diplomatic and foreign affairs talent capable of shouldering the heavy responsibilities of the new era.