On March 12, the “Hometown of Chinese Mathematicians” Summit on Mathematical Culture and Inheritance and the opening ceremony of Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao Memorial Hall were held at Wenzhou University (WZU), hosted by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology and Wenzhou Municipal Government, organized by WZU, the Organization Department of Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee and Wenzhou Association for Science and Technology, and executed by the College of Mathematics and Physics of WZU. The summit was the first event of the 2023 World Young Scientists Summit and one of the activities of the 3rd Wenzhou Talent Day.

Present at the summit were six top talents in the field of mathematics, some leaders including Xie Zhiyuan, Secretary of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology, Zhang Jian, Secretary of the Party Committee of WZU and Director of the Organization Department of Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee, Chen Yingxu, Vice Mayor of Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government, Xie Shuhua, former Secretary of the Party Committee of WZU, and Wei Eqing, former Vice Mayor of Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government and former President of WZU, and some distinguished guests including Mr. Su Buqing’s daughter and son-in-law, Su Suli and Cheng Yiquan. Meanwhile, the summit was also attended by experts and scholars from all over China, some colleagues, friends and students of Mr. Su Buqing and Mr Gu Chaohao, some leaders and representative men of virtue from Mr Su Buqing’s hometown of Pingyang County, some officials from relevant departments in Wenzhou and WZU, as well as some teachers and students from WZU.

Firstly, Zhang Jian delivered a speech. On behalf of Wenzhou Municipal Party Committee, Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government and WZU, he extended a warm welcome to all the experts, scholars and guests who had come from afar, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the people from all walks of life who had been supporting the development of Wenzhou. He stated that mathematics is the icon of WZU. The famous Wenzhounese mathematicians Mr. Su Buqing and Mr. Gu Chaohao have made historic contributions to WZU, and the excellent mathematical genes have long been planted in the innovative blood of WZU. WZU’s construction of Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao Memorial Hall is to inherit and carry forward the excellent mathematical genes of Wenzhou, and to foster a distinct atmosphere that attaches premium to the construction of mathematical disciplines and the training of mathematical talents, so that the blaze of mathematics will continue to light up the land of Wenzhou. Meanwhile, Zhang Jian also extended an “olive branch” to the participating academicians and experts, hoping that they would often come to Wenzhou and WZU in particular, so that WZU could have the opportunities to offer them a broad stage and the most relaxed environment with its most preferential policies, excellent environment and sincere service.

Next, Chen Shuxing, a student of Mr. Su Buqing and Mr. Gu Chaohao, also delivered a speech. He pointed out that Mr. Su Buqing and Mr. Gu Chaohao set a shining example for us in their contribution to China’s science and education and with their noble scientific spirit. The establishment of the Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao Memorial Hall is not only a tribute to and remembrance of the two colossi, but also an effort to encourage later generations to excel and forge ahead with the spirit of the two giants, thus promoting the prosperity of science and technology and higher education in China. Mr. Chen hoped that this memorial hall would become a place where people would always remember the two gentlemen and a new site to inspire people to explore and strive for progress. Besides, he also expected that friends in the field of mathematics would actively follow the dynamics of mathematics in Wenzhou and support the development of mathematical sciences at WZU. It is his best wish that with the strong backing from the local party committee and government, the mathematical cause and talent training in Wenzhou would make great strides and garner new glories.

Hu Hesheng, wife of Mr. Gu Chaohao and professor of Fudan University, sent a congratulatory letter for the event, which was read out on site by Mr. Wang Guanglin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Mathematical Sciences of Fudan University. In the congratulatory letter, Ms. Hu Hesheng showed her gratitude to Mr. Su Buqing for his guidance and education, commenting that Su had devoted his life to education, remained loyal to China and the Chinese people, and was a great educator and mathematician. As for Mr. Gu Chaohao, he actively contributed to the founding of WZU as a comprehensive university since his presidency of the university. By now, WZU is the only comprehensive university in southern Zhejiang, northern Fujian and eastern Jiangxi, marking the realization of the wishes of Mr. Su Buqing and Mr. Gu Chaohao. Both Su and Gu are highly recognized by the people of their hometown for their thoughts and contributions to WZU and Wenzhou’s education. As a student of Su Buqing and a daughter-in-law of Wenzhou, Hu Hesheng also gave her thanks to the folks of Wenzhou and wished WZU prosperity.

Then, Chen Yingxu also delivered a speech. On behalf of the Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government, he extended a warm welcome to the academicians, experts and guests, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the leaders and people from all walks of life who had long cared for and supported Wenzhou’s reform and development. He said that Wenzhou was known as the “Hometown of Great Scholars in Southeast China”, the cradle of Chinese mathematicians and the hometown of mathematicians. It has been making constant endeavors to fortify its image as the “hometown of mathematicians” in the new era. For example, it created various platforms such as the World Young Scientists Summit, the China Mathematics Education Seminar, the Wenzhounese Mathematicians Research Center and the Gallery of Wenzhounese Mathematicians, and introduced the Construction Programme of Wenzhou Mathematicians’ Home. It gave full play to its rich resources of Wenzhounese mathematicians, and accelerated the introduction of a slew of mathematicians at home and abroad. In his speech, Mr. Chen suggested to gather the strongest brains to strengthen Wenzhou’s basic research in mathematics, to concentrate the greatest resources to help Wenzhou train mathematical talents, and to converge the best talents to build Wenzhou into a highland of talent innovation. He looked forward to the helping hand and support from academicians and experts to jointly polish Wenzhou’s image as the “hometown of mathematicians”.

A ceremony then ensued to initiate the “Wenzhou Mathematicians’ Home” jointly by Xie Zhiyuan, Zhang Jian, Chen Yingxu, Xie Shuhua and Wei Eqing, etc.

Besides, the meeting also witnessed a ceremony to unveil the Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao Memorial Hall by Xie Zhiyuan, Zhang Jian, Chen Yingxu, Xie Shuhua and Wei Eqing, etc.

Wenzhou, the hometown of mathematicians, boasts a galaxy of mathematical masters and an enduring mathematical culture. Among the contemporary mathematicians in China and the world, there are more than 200 famous Wenzhounese mathematicians, represented by Jiang Lifu, Su Buqing, Gu Chaohao and Jiang Boju. Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao, two great Wenzhounese mathematicians, served as honorary president and president of the former WZU respectively. They loved their country and their homeland, pursued the truth and rigorous scholarship regardless of fame and fortune, and made historic contributions to Wenzhou’s education and WZU. To commemorate the sages, celebrate their spirit and inspire future generations, WZU has set up the Su Buqing and Gu Chaohao Memorial Hall with the support of the whole university. The memorial hall will become a new platform for WZU’s “three-wide education” and external cultural exchange, and a front to inherit and spread the spirit of scientists and Wenzhounese mathematicians.

As a grand academic feast, this summit gathered experts, professors and young talents  committed to mathematical culture and its inheritance, research and application to offer advice and suggestions for the development of mathematics in Wenzhou. It has great significance in telling the story of Wenzhounese mathematicians, propagating the spirit of scientists in the new era, giving full play to the unique advantages of Wenzhou mathematicians’ resources, attracting Wenzhounese mathematical talents and world-renowned mathematicians and enhancing the visibility of Wenzhou as the “cradle of mathematicians” and “hometown of mathematicians” .