Zhao Qizheng, former head of the State Council Information Office,
took office Saturday as dean of
China's top
journalism school.
His inauguration as dean of School of Journalism at People's
University coincides the school's 50th founding anniversary.
"It's a heavy task I have taken over," he told a large audience
of students and colleagues at the inauguration ceremony. "Our
journalists will have to serve the public in China as well as the
whole world."
Ji Baocheng, president of the People's University, said Zhao's
background and profound knowledge and insight will help upgrade the
school's professionalism and status in the international
academia.
He said it's good for retired government officials to take posts
at universities. "It mirrors social progress."
Zhao, 65, was a nuclear physics major from a top science
university and has proven highly competent as an official.
People's University's School of Journalism has trained at least
7,000 journalists over the past five decades.
(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2005)
