BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the country's higher education institutes to ensure that graduates demonstrate both moral and technical excellence in a letter congratulating Tsinghua University on its 105th anniversary.

Extending greetings to all faculty, students and alumni in a letter Friday, Xi praised the university's teaching that combines Chinese and Western cultures, the ancient and modern, sciences and humanities.

"Managing higher education well affects a country's development and a nation's future," Xi said.

Xi urged Tsinghua to continue its good work in building students' morals and character, serving the country and producing more talents needed by the nation and the people.

Xi expressed the hope that the university will strive to make itself one of the first-class universities in the world and make greater contributions to the development of the nation, the welfare of the people and the progress of human civilization.

Originally founded in 1911 as "Tsinghua Xuetang," it is one of the country's key academic centers.