On December 28 2020, the 20th Anniversary of CERNET Networks Co., Ltd. was held in Beijing with the theme of "Twenty Years of Hard Work, Innovation for the New Era".
Twenty years ago, in order to promote the development of CERNET, the China Education and Research Network, the Ministry of Education decided to form CERNET Networks Co., Ltd. They then entrusted the company to undertake CERNET operation services while still maintaining the original scientific research system of CERNET. This action laid an important institutional mechanism foundation for the stable development of CERNET.
Zhao Qinping, vice chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, leader of the Second CERNET Leading Group, director of the Management Committee, former vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Jiang Shengyao, executive deputy secretary of Tsinghua University, Li Zhimin, former director of the Science and Technology Development Center of the Ministry of Education, the first vice chairman of the company's first board of directors, the second and third board of directors, Kang Kejun, the former vice president of Tsinghua University, the second and third chairman of CERNET company, and Zhang Yongjun, deputy director of the Science and Technology Development Center of the Ministry of Education, Ren Xiaomin, former vice president of the University of Posts and Telecommunications, former boarding director of CERNET Company, Wu Jianping, CEO and the fourth chairman of CERNET Company, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and others attended this commemorative anniversary event.
The CERNET Management Committee of the Ministry of Education sent a congratulatory letter to express its warm congratulations on the 20th anniversary. This letter stated that the establishment of CERNET company has laid an important system and mechanism foundation for the long-term development of CERNET, and has made significant contributions to the education informatization in China. It is hoped that CERNET company will seize this historical development opportunity and strive to construct the education internet and make new and greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Wu Jianping, CEO and the fourth chairman of CERNET company, director of the CERNET expert committee, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, summarized and reviewed the development history of CERNET company over the past 20 years, analyzed the opportunities and challenges ahead, and outlined out the future development directions that CERNET must undertake.
Wu said that the past 20 years have been 20 years of not forgetting the original intention plus 20 years of hard work, innovation and development. Since 2000, under the leadership and support of the Ministry of Education and relevant national departments, under the correct leadership of the company's boarding directors, with the strong support of brother universities, and with the joint efforts of all CERNET people, CERNET company has successfully completed its task. He said that on the basis of two decades of steady development, all CERNET people will continue to practice the core values of "self-cultivation, dedication, respect and innovation" in the future. This included further work to promote breakthroughs in key technologies of the next-generation Internet.
Li Zhimin, former director of the Science and Technology Development Center of the Ministry of Education, delivered a speech on behalf of the company's first board of directors and read out the congratulatory letter from Liang Youneng, the first chairman of CERNET company and the former executive vice president of Tsinghua University.
In his speech on behalf of the second and third board of directors, Kang Kejun, the former vice president of Tsinghua University, summed up the company's important experience and looked forward to the company's future development direction. He said that CERNET's stable development benefited from its adherence to the main business of network services and its focus on education and scientific research services. CERNET must seize the new historical opportunity, and elevate the innovation and application of network technology to a new level, so as to provide strong support for the development of education of China.
Zhao Qinping, the leader of the second CERNET leading group, the director of the management committee, the former vice minister of the Ministry of Education, and the academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that combination of CERNET and CERNET company working closely together is a successful system and mechanism innovation. This innovative model provides examples for other scientific research projects and technology transformation initiatives.
Jiang Shengyao, executive deputy secretary of Tsinghua University, delivered an important speech on behalf of Tsinghua University. He said that Tsinghua University is the shareholder unit of CERNET company, and it is also the lead unit and support unit of CERNET construction. In the past 20 years, it has fully witnessed the development and growth of CERNET. Under the continued leadership of the Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University will shoulder the important responsibility of the CERNET network center support unit and the shareholder representatives, together with other universities, and thereby continue to support CERNET and CERNET company for a bigger and stronger future.
On December 28, 2000, with the decision-making support of the Ministry of Education, CERNET Network Co., Ltd. was formally established. For the past 20 years, CERNET has provided services that have been focused on university education and scientific research, and has actively supported the national next-generation Internet research and deployment. Over the past 20 years, the company has developed steadily, with steady growth in revenue, and gradual improvement in profitability. It has grown from less than 100 million yuan in revenue and 75 million in assets to an enterprise with 10 billion yuan in revenue, nearly 4 billion net assets, after-tax profits of over 500 million, and continued appreciation of state-owned assets.
The commemorative anniversary was hosted by Wang Yan, deputy general manager of CERNET, and was held both online and offline. At the same time, the commendation for the outstanding staff of CERNET Networks Co., Ltd. and "The 20th Anniversary Exhibition of CERNET Networks Co., Ltd." was also held.
