My respected teachers and students, ladies and gentleman:
Good Morning everyone! With joy, I welcome 929 new students in the class of 2012, 18 new faculty members, and 24 new staffs to Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. Let me represent Peking University and PKU Shenzhen in warmly welcoming you to join us and become a member of the family of the PKU south campus. Among the new students, there are 33 international students who come from 25 countries in five continents. For these international students, you not only start a new phase of study, but also have to meet all sorts of challenges of a foreign land. Let us give a special round of applause to these international students. We wish you success in your studies and also to become ambassadors to build friendships between your country and China.
尊敬的郭局长，尊敬的各位老师，各位同学：
你们好！今天，我们满怀喜悦地迎来了929名2012级的新同学，18名新教师和24名新员工。在此，我代表北京大学和北大深圳研究生院的全体师生对各位成为南国燕园大家庭成员表示衷心的祝贺和热烈的欢迎！在这929名同学中，有来自五大洲25个国家的33名国际留学生，你们不仅要开始研究生的学习生涯，还要迎接在异国学习的各种挑战，让我们以特别的掌声欢迎你们，并祝愿你们在未来的两到三年中成功地完成学业并成为各国与中国之间的友好使者。
My dear students, 2012 is the year worth remembering. 100 years ago, the so-called imperial university of Peking, established by the late Qing dynasty was formally changed the name to Peking University and the first president was Mr. Yanfu who translated and introduced Adam Smith’s “Wealth of the Nation” into China. It was him who opened a new historical era of ideas of democracy, scientific approaches, independent thoughts and freedom; these ideas, ever since, guide social progress and promote national development. 100 years later, now you enter Peking University and start your journey as graduate students. I’m sure this is a very important step in your life. To most of you, perhaps this is also the last the so-called full time study period in your life. If we say the undergraduate study is to broaden your vision and increase your knowledge, the graduate study then asks you to clearly select your professional specialty and choose your future career path. You don’t have  to worry about a lot of things and growing up when you are in your undergraduate. Now you have to think about the meaning of life and responsibilities in graduate school.
同学们，2012年是值得纪念的一年。100年前，清末建立起来的“京师大学堂”正式改名为“北京大学”，并由翻译了亚当斯密《国富论》的严复担任首任校长，开启了北大追求民主科学独立自由、引领社会进步、促进国家发展的历史篇章。100年后的今天，你们进入了北京大学，开始了你们研究生的学习生涯。在你们的人生中，这是一个非常重要的阶段。对于大多数人来说，这也许是你们一生中最后一次全日制学习。如果说，本科的学习只是让你开阔眼界增加知识的话，研究生的学习则要求你们确立专业选择未来。本科时，你们还可以无忧无虑，“不想长大”；研究生时，你们不得不开始思索人生，负起责任。
Lately, I have been thinking about what should I say as a chancellor, professor and senior alumni in addition to congratulations and welcome in this important step of your life. In the last few opening ceremonies, I put a lot of effort to introduce students to PKU Shenzhen Graduate School, because at that time, few people knew this new campus, which is located in this fascinating frontier city of China’s reform and opening-up. I emphasized the mission of Peking University and direction of the national development and introduced the purpose and approach on how we can build a world class international campus. But today, I want to talk about how effectively you can educate yourself to enhance your capabilities and establish a solid foundation for work and practice for the future in your next two to five years of graduate study here.
这几天，我一直在想，在这个人生重要阶段的开始之际，作为学校领导、老师和学长，除了祝贺和欢迎，我应该跟你们说些什么呢？
前几年的开学典礼上，我向同学们介绍了北大深圳研究生院，因为那时大多数同学还不太了解我们这个坐落在改革开放前沿的新校区。这两年的开学典礼上，我强调了国家的发展和北大的使命，介绍了我们建设一流国际化校区的目标和措施。在今天的开学典礼上，我则想谈谈我们应当如何在未来两年到五年的研究生生涯中有效地将自己锻造成才，奠定未来几十年工作学习的基础。
The real difference between undergraduate and graduate study, largely, is now you are relying upon yourself to make progress in a shorter time. Therefore, you need to make clear how you want to use your time, how you want to make a difference in your life, and how to elevate your capabilities at the beginning of your studies. Of course, ambitious goals, free thinking, responsible action, as well as good health, which are all critical building blocks for future success. 
与本科教育不同，研究生的学习主要靠自己，时间也更加有限。所以，在入学之初就应该明确未来几年如何度过，切实让自己的人生因为北大而变得不同，因为努力而得到提升。远大的目标，自由的思想，负责的行为，健康的体魄，这些都是我们未来成功的基础。
First, we need to have a clear goal. This goal, of course, must be far-sighted and noble. Only then, this goal can motivate you continuously to strive forward and generate creative ideas. The reason Steve Jobs was such an innovator and successful entrepreneur is precisely because he had a goal to change the world, far beyond the ordinary objective of profit making. In fact, all successful individuals in the world are all clearly identifiable with their own goals and dreams.
首先，我们要有奋斗的目标。这个目标要远大，只有崇高的理想和远大的目标，才能有勇于创新的精神和坚持不懈的动力。乔布斯之所以能成为成功的企业家和创新者，是因为他有“改变世界”的目标，而不仅仅是为了办企业赚钱。世界上的成功者都有自己远大的目标，都有自己的梦。有了远大的目标，我们就会积极主动地为实现这一目标而刻苦学习。不会把读研作为镀金，不会为实习而放弃上课，不会因为学习的辛苦而退却，也不会因为社会的浮躁而动摇。
A higher goal will motivate us to work hard and be persistent in order to fulfill our goals. You will not merely use the degree as a tool for job hunting, but actually be encouraged to not to quit studying because it requires hard work and never lose focus even in the mist of social interference.
Next, we must maintain freedom of thinking. Looking back in history, academic breakthroughs and new innovations are occurred when you cross the margin of limitation and overcome the challenges of oppression. The thoughts of freedom and new opportunities are often found in the transformation of traditional disciplines into new interdisciplinary approaches. In a nutshell, I hope you will always be able to maintain independent thinking, not blindly following the popular trends nor authority without careful consideration. Freedom and tolerance is not just our school’s foundation, should also be our academic tradition.
其次，我们要有自由的思想。纵观历史，学术研究与制度创新就是在不断突破边界，挑战权威。特别是目前各个学科的发展不断的走向交叉与前沿，自由的思想是在这些交叉与前沿中找到方向、实现突破的重要保障。研究生阶段的学习不是简单的接受知识，更重要的是钻研与创新。自由与包容，是北大的立校之本，也是我们应有的学风。
Thirdly, I want to talk about responsible actions. It is a perception, when people are talking about “PKUers,” they often only label us with freedom, not realizing the true culture of “PKUers” is coupled with responsibilities. We emphasize freedom of thoughts and academic study. In the meantime, we point out that it is responsible actions that make “PKUers” respected and treated as models by the society. As an ancient proverb goes, “Do not do anything because the evil is small and also do not NOT do something because the benefit is tiny.” Responsible actions go through your daily life and study. If you cheat, if you copy others today, you may be creating fake products and smuggling goods tomorrow. Regardless how smart ，how capable and how famous you are, irresponsible actions would lead you to lose all your former efforts and reputation and bring you to failure.
与自由的思想相辅相成的是负责的行为。一直以来，提到北大人，人们想到的只是“自由”，忽视了我们对负责行为的要求。我们所强调的自由是思想的自由和学术的自由，而负责的行为则是北大人行为世范和学为楷模的基础。古人说“不以恶小而为之，不以善小而不为”，负责任的行为不仅体现在对国家对社会方面，也贯穿于日常学习和生活之中。今天你在学习研究中抄袭造假，明天就可能在工作中营私舞弊。智商再高，能力再强，名声再大，不负责任的行为最终会导致前功尽弃、身败名裂。
Fourthly, I want to say a few words about health. The former President of PKU, Mr. Cai Yuanpei pointed out 90 years ago that, “Perfect character development must built upon strong physical education” So as a student of PKU, we will develop a strong mind through building our physical strength. The well-known entrepreneur and PKU alumni Mr. Huang Nupo, who has climbed to the top of many famous mountains, said after he returned from his expedition, ‘I have found that scientific research and business battle strategy are not necessarily harder than rigorous physical trainings.’ And he said, ‘‘one can gain confidence, when he has had the opportunity to stand high and look down upon the high peaks of the mountain range.’ The University Town offers students adequate sports facilities. I hope all of you can make best use of them and maintain healthy through excises in order to face future challenges.
 最后我想说说健康的体魄。老校长蔡元培90多年前就指出“完全人格，首在体育”。体育锻造不仅强身健体，还可以磨练意志。坚强的意志和强健的身体是我们实现所有梦想的基本保障。北大知名企业家校友黄怒波先生曾经登遍世界名山，仅珠穆朗玛峰就登顶三次，他在登山归来说过，“我没有发现世界上比体育运动更难的事情，不论是科研探索，还是商海鏖战，看过众山之小，你发现你更有自信”。大学城有很好的运动设施，希望同学们很好地利用这一条件，积极参加体育锻炼，以强健的身体迎接未来的挑战。
My students, in the past 110 years the development of Peking University is always closely intertwined with the fate of our country. Today, China is a rising power in the world. Without a generation of responsible brave elite, this nation cannot possibly bear the responsibility of a great nation in the world. Therefore, I challenge all of you to have a broad mind and be responsible. Once, a PKU Professor, Mr. Chen Duxiu said, ‘Even though the whole world falls into darkness, only a few of us who are determined not to obey, bow down or to surrender to the darkness, together we will have the strength to remove the dark clouds and see the blue sky.’ This is the real PKU spirit. My fellow students, when you enter into PKU, you will sense the expectations, sometimes disappointment or even criticism from the society. Being a PKUer, I hope you can integrate social responsibility into your personal life and develop into PKU values which you can carry and influence you through all your life.
 同学们，建校一百一十多年来，北京大学的发展始终与国家民族的命运息息相关。巍巍上庠，国运所系，当今中国正在崛起为世界大国，一个国家如果没有一批勇于担当的精英，这个国家就不可能承担世界大国的责任，而北大人就应该有心怀天下的责任感。北大曾经的文科学长陈独秀掷言：“即使全世界都陷入了黑暗，只要我们几个人不向黑暗附和、屈服、投降，便能够自信有拨开云雾见青天的力量！”这正是北大人真实精神写照。同学们，你们进入北大会感悟到更多社会对北大人的期望、失望甚至责难，希望你们始终能正视人民的期待，担负起时代的重托，也希望你们能够将北大人特有的社会责任与使命深深融入到血液，在求学中不断形成影响个人一生的北大人的价值观念。
My PKU students, you are at the junction of a new study period. I hope you do have high aspirations, but still have your feet on the ground and walk steadily, step by step. Every mile in this journey will help your growth and enrich your life, elevating both your knowledge and value systems. In addition, I also sincerely hope you continuously clarify your mission and carry on PKU’s traditions into Shenzhen’s innovation. For future development of society and happiness of mankind, always be encouraged to seek the truth and your unique contribution.
Finally, I wish you all good health and good luck! Thank you!
 同学们，你们即将开启研究生阶段的求学之旅，我希望你们从一入学就立志高远，脚踏实地，让这段旅程里的每一时刻丰富你的成长，完满你的生命，从知识体系到价值观念都有全面的提升。继承北大的历史传统，融合深圳的创新精神，为国家的富强、人类的幸福勇于探索，勇于求真，做出新一代人独特的贡献。
最后，祝所有的新同学，新老师和新员工们在新的学年中身体健康，学业有成，工作愉快！