New York University (NYU) Shanghai, the first Sino-US joint research university in China, held its first graduation ceremony on May 28.

Similar to how the Empire State Building in New York is illuminated each year to honor the graduating NYU cohort, Shanghai's Oriental Pearl TV Tower was lit in violet from May 27 to 28.

The 264 graduates, who came from China, the United States and 31 other countries, received their bachelor's degrees and diplomas during the event held at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center in Pudong.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, congratulated the university through a letter, saying that it has "achieved remarkable success in innovating the school-administration system, cultivating outstanding talents and boosting cultural exchange."

NYU Shanghai was established in October 2012. It is a joint venture between New York University and East China Normal University.

"The members of the Class of 2017 are pioneers - they are the first to graduate from this extraordinary experiment in global education. They also are the embodiment of our hopes for the future as they leave this campus ready to assume the responsibilities of global citizens and leaders in the arts, sciences, humanities, business and engineering," said NYU President Andrew Hamilton.

Chancellor Yu Lizhong urged the graduates to carry forward NYU Shanghai's academic values of independent thinking, innovation and creativity as well as its spirit of openness and inclusiveness to aid the advancement of society.

"The world needs creative talents with a global vision who are good at cross-cultural communication and cooperation. I hope you can connect your dream with the dream of human beings and the dream of the world," he said.

"May your steps lead you often back to Shanghai, back to Pudong. For you will always be members of the NYU Shanghai family. And we will always be happy to welcome you home," said Vice Chancellor Jeff Lehman.

(China Daily USA 06/02/2017 page7)