The 2001 Working Conference of the Association of Chinese Graduate Schools(ACGS）was held in Chongqing University from Feb. 26 to 28. Zhao Qinping, director of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Wang Yajie, deputy director, Han Jianhua, deputy director of the Department of Students of the Ministry of Education, deans or executive vice deans of 33 graduate schools nationwide and directors of six divisions of the Academic Degrees Office of the State Council attended the meeting.

　　On the meeting, Director Zhao Qinping delivered a report entitled "Setting Goals, Establishing Mechanisms, Enhancing Vitality, Creating Advantages, and Improving the International Competitiveness of China's Graduate Education as Soon as Possible"; Deputy Director Wang Yajie conveyed the spirit of the 18th meeting of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council; the six divisions of the Academic Degrees Office of the State Council introduced the main work of each division in 2001; Secretary General Zhou Qifeng introduced the work of each division in 2001. Mr. Zhou Qifeng, the secretary-general, made a report on the summary of the work of the Joint Committee in 2000 and the main points of the work in 2001; Mr. Ye Huiyuan, the vice president of Graduate School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, made a report on the visit of the delegation of the Joint Committee to the U.S.; Mr. Ding Xuemei, the executive vice president of Graduate School of Harbin Institute of Technology, made a report on the visit of the delegation of the Joint Committee to the west. The meeting discussed the "Degree Law of the People's Republic of China" (discussion draft) and the adjustment plan of the catalog of disciplines and majors, and reached a consensus on some issues of the construction of the Joint Council itself, such as the membership of the pilot graduate school.

　　The meeting achieved the expected purpose and was a complete success.

Asecretariat of ACGS

March 1st, 2001