Senior alumni gather at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Jiangnan University on Nov 17. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 3,000 alumni of Jiangnan University gathered in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, for a celebratory event to mark the university's 60th anniversary on Nov 17.

Celebrations got underway at 9:00 am in the university's gymnasium, with 1,200 current students and teachers joining the alumni for the proceedings.

A total of 147 congratulatory letters were received from 75 top and partner universities. Zhu Qingbao, the Party secretary of the Jiangnan University read some congratulation letters from Tsinghua University and Nanjing University.

Chen Jian, president of Jiangnan University delivers a keynote speech at the celebratory event to mark the university's 60th anniversary on Nov 17 in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"It was established at a time when the country urgently needed to cultivate light industrial talents," said Chen Jian, the president of Jiangnan University and an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Chen reviewed its history in his keynote speech and comprehensively summarized its achievements in various aspects since its establishment in 1958.

"Jiangnan University has witnessed tremendous growth over the years, developing from a light industry institute into a leading research institute in China as well as a comprehensive university that is highly respected at home and abroad."

Known as the "Pearl of China's Light Industry Higher Education", Jiangnan University offers many leading food and light industry majors, which have increased in stature in recent years.

As one of China's most progressive universities it ranks 47 in the list of China's top universities, up from 128 in 2003.

During the celebratory ceremony, five distinguished alumni and one postgraduate student were also invited to make a speech on behalf of the six generations who have graduated from the university over the last 60 years.

The school song of Jiangnan University closed the event and a campus marathon was held the next day, as part of the celebrations.