LANZHOU, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao has written a congratulatory letter to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Lanzhou University in northwest China's Gansu Province.

    The university has been sticking to its motto of making constant efforts to become stronger and fostering its own features, and has developed glorious patriotic and academic traditions, Hu said in the letter.

    After the founding of New China and particularly the country's reform and opening up, Lanzhou University has shared the fate of the nation and kept pace with the times, and made important contribution to the economic and social development in the western regions, the president said.

    He expected the university to contribute more to supporting the national program of developing the western regions, building an innovation-oriented country and a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, and stepping up the socialist modernization drive.

    A grand gathering was held Saturday to commemorate the centenary of the university. State Councilor Liu Yandong read President Hu's congratulatory letter at the conference, noting that talented people and education are the foundation of building a strong and modern country.

    She hoped that the university plays a better role in cultivating innovation-oriented talents, and bolstering advanced thinking and science and technological achievements.