Encouraged by the letter of reply from President Xi Jinping, educators and students from four universities expressed their determination to step up efforts in scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation, with many pledging to better serve national strategic needs through greater self-reliance in science and technology.

Xi replied on Tuesday to a letter from faculty and students of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Southwest Jiaotong University and Beijing Jiaotong University, as the four institutions mark their 130th founding anniversaries this year.

Xi urged them to strengthen independent sci-tech innovation and talent cultivation, and to achieve more advancements through closer collaboration between industry, universities and research institutes.

Tang Tao, chief scientist at the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Rail Autonomous Operation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said Xi's reply letter left him both inspired and keenly aware of the responsibility on his shoulders.

Noting that China has built the world's largest high-speed railway and urban rail transit networks, he said his team will remain focused on national strategic needs and pressing industry challenges, deepen original innovation and push ahead with key technological breakthroughs to support safer, smarter and greener rail transport.

Li Yuhang, an undergraduate at Beijing Jiaotong University's School of Traffic and Transportation, said Xi's letter strengthened his resolve to devote himself to transport research and contribute to building China into a transportation powerhouse.

Zhai Wanming, chief professor at Southwest Jiaotong University, said Xi's emphasis on strengthening independent sci-tech innovation and talent cultivation provides fundamental guidance for tackling bottleneck technologies and securing the commanding heights of global rail transportation technology.

As China's high-speed rail moves toward operations at 400 kilometers per hour, Zhai said the country must remain committed to original basic research while turning scientific capabilities into strengths in talent cultivation.

Tan Jiahua, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said he was deeply encouraged by Xi's response after more than six decades working on the front lines of education and research in ship and ocean engineering.

"Since the 1960s, I have personally witnessed China's great transformation from a major shipbuilder into a shipbuilding powerhouse," he said.

Tan said his team will continue to focus on key core technologies in major engineering vessels, foster young talent through major national projects, and contribute to building China's strength in marine engineering.

Hu Naisai, a retired professor who took part in Xi'an Jiaotong University's historic westward relocation from Shanghai in 1955, said she was deeply moved by the letter.

She stressed the importance of never forgetting the university's original aspiration of serving the nation through industry, carrying forward the spirit of the westward relocation, and helping guide younger generations to contribute to the country's drive to build strength in education, science and technology, and talent.

Deng Jingxi, a doctoral student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, said Xi's call for strengthening independent sci-tech innovation and talent cultivation has given him a clearer sense of direction in his research.

Focusing on dynamic polymer materials for cutting-edge fields such as smart materials and flexible sensing, he said he will remain dedicated to basic research, tackle tough problems and strive to contribute to the country's drive for self-reliant innovation.

Zhou Wenting, Peng Chao and Qin Feng contributed to this story.