“Whether you’re working in a lab or reporting in a newsroom, whether you’re addressing climate change or fighting infectious disease, remember: impact is ultimately about saving lives and creating opportunities for all people to reach their full potential.”

Mark Sussman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, speaks at Tsinghua University.

The Paper learned from the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University that on June 18, Mark Suzman, CEO and director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (“Gates Foundation”), was invited to give a speech at Tsinghua University.

With the theme of "Your Potential, the World's Possibilities", he shared his life journey from a South African journalist to the leader of the world's largest private charitable foundation.

The School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University and the Schwarzman Scholars of Tsinghua University are the co-organizers of this event.

Tsinghua University Vice President Yang Bin said in his speech that Tsinghua University, which has always attached great importance to international cooperation, will continue to uphold the concepts of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win, and actively promote closer partnerships with global leading institutions such as the Gates Foundation to jointly respond to global challenges. He expressed the hope that these efforts will not only contribute more wisdom and strength to global health and development, but also provide more learning and development opportunities for the younger generation.

“ If you walk alone, you will go fast; if you walk together, you will go far .” Mark Sussman emphasized the key role of working together in solving and responding to global challenges.

For example, he said that China has successfully eliminated malaria and hopes to pass on this success to African and South Asian countries that are severely affected by malaria. Not only that, the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) jointly established by the Beijing Municipal Government, Tsinghua University and the Gates Foundation is developing a more promising antimalarial drug candidate; the " green super rice " cultivated by Chinese scientists can still maintain high yields under extreme climate conditions. The Gates Foundation is supporting them to work closely with African scientists to ensure that these breakthroughs can improve the plight of small African farmers who are least responsible for climate change but suffer the most serious consequences; at the "New Generation Toilet Expo" jointly held by the Gates Foundation and the Chinese government in Beijing in 2018, an innovative design from a Chinese partner attracted the attention of South African officials. It can make toilets independent of external water and electricity supply and can effectively kill pathogens. Later, this innovative technology was brought to a local public school in South Africa, and the school's attendance rate even increased by 80%.

Mark Sussman held a roundtable discussion with student representatives from Tsinghua University.

These innovations originating in China have had a significant impact thousands of miles away , demonstrating once again that everyone can contribute to creating a healthier and safer world.

He said, “Chinese researchers, philanthropists and policymakers have the resources, expertise and capabilities to save lives and create opportunities around the world. Over the past decades, China has made remarkable achievements in reducing child mortality, increasing life expectancy, alleviating poverty, improving nutrition and eliminating diseases. These valuable experiences deserve to be shared with the world.”