HOUSTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The 10th North America Jiaotong University alumni reunion was held Saturday in Houston, Texas.
Some 500 alumini from five Jiaotong universities, including four Jiaotong universities in the Chinese mainland and one in Hsinchu, in China's Taiwan province, attended the gathering which had been held every five years since its first session in New York in 1965.
Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, who is a graduate from the Shanghai Jiaotong University, and former U.S. president George W. Bush, sent congratulatory letters to the meeting.
Jiang said in his letter that the century-old Jiaotong University is one of the Chinese universities with a fairly long history and have been the cradle to numerous outstanding people.
"Alumni of the Jiaotong University have made great contribution to the development of China as well as to enhancing friendship and cooperation between China and the United States," he said.
Jiang voiced his hope that Jiaotong University graduates will continue to work for the rejuvenation of China and help deepen exchanges between China and the United States.
Bush, in his letter, thanked Jiaotong University alumni for sharing their cultural heritage with the U.S. people and adding to the legacy and "diversity of experiences that help make America great."
The Jiaotong University alumni reunion "is an opportunity to celebrate our strong relationship rooted in common interests, challenges and aspirations," he said.
Elaine Chao, former U.S. secretary of labor, and internationally renowned actress Lisa Lu, among others, delivered speeches at the meeting.
NBA star Yaoming, who was enrolled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University in 2001, together with six others, received alumni awards at the meeting.
