On 1 July 2024, the Open University of China (OUC) celebrated the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with a July 1st Commendation Meeting.

This event honoured CPC members who have held their membership for five decades, the "Pioneer Posts of the CPC Members" from institutions directly affiliated with the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the 2023 Outstanding Party (General) Branch Secretaries of the OUC. Wang Qiming, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, delivered a special Party lecture titled "Thoroughly Studying and Implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Discourse on Making All-Around Efforts to Tighten Party Discipline So as to Provide a Strong Discipline Guarantee for Accelerating the Construction of a World-Class Open University" to all Party members. Chen Yinghui, a Party building liaison officer of the MOE’s directly affiliated institutions and former director general level officer (Grade I) of the MOE’s Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, attended the conference.

Wang Qiming gave a special Party lecture to all Party members.

Wang Qiming emphasised that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee, under the leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping, has unwaveringly committed to thorough and rigorous Party self-governance, integrating discipline enhancement into the broader framework of Party building. This focus on political fortification has ensured stringent adherence to discipline in all respects. It is crucial for all Party members and officials to deepen their study and continually strengthen their awareness of political and organisational discipline, as well as discipline concerning integrity, the public, work, and life. They must bolster self-discipline and enhance their resistance to corruption to improve both the quality and efficiency of building a world-class open university characterised by strict discipline.
Wang Qiming emphasised the critical importance of gaining an accurate understanding of the need to tighten Party discipline from both a political and comprehensive perspective for thorough and rigorous self-governance. It is essential to enforce strict political discipline and rules, guide political orientation, and regulate statements and actions to enhance political capabilities. It is necessary to maintain strictness, prioritise discipline and law, ensure discipline is stricter than legal requirements, and harmonize discipline with the law. There is a need for continuous efforts to deepen the improvement of work conduct, resolutely implement the Central Party leadership's Eight-Point Decision on Improving Conduct, and motivate officials to fulfill their duties with confidence and determination. All these measures aim to promote open education that satisfies the public and to make new and greater contributions to building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation.

Presenting the commemorative medal "Glorious 50 Years as a CPC Member" to representatives.

Presenting certificates to representatives of Outstanding Party (General) Branch secretaries.

Li Wei from the Party Branch of the Learning Resources Department gave a speech.

Li Guangde from the Party Branch of the School of Agroforestry and Medicine gave a speech.

Sun Hongfei from the Party Branch of the Experimental College gave a speech.

Seven comrades, including Qi Xiangyun, were awarded the commemorative medal "Glorious 50 Years as a CPC Member." Five comrades, including He Jing, were honoured with the title "Pioneer Posts of the CPC Members" at the directly affiliated institutions of the MOE. Nine comrades, including Liu Zhifang, were commended as Outstanding Party (General) Branch Secretaries of the OUC. University leaders presented the awards to the honorees. Li Wei, Li Guangde, and Sun Hongfei, representing their respective Party branches of the Learning Resources Department, the School of Agroforestry and Medicine, and the Experimental College, spoke on behalf of the advanced collectives and individuals.
The meeting was conducted both online and offline, attended by members of the Party committee, leading members, secretaries of all Party (general) branches, all middle-level officials, heads of university-owned enterprises, and all Party members within the OUC.

By Lang Qingyu, OUC