BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping has encouraged graduates of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at the prestigious Peking University to be leaders of reform and development in their own countries.

Xi announced the establishment of the institute during a series of summits commemorating the 70th anniversary of the UN in 2015. In an effort to train high-end talent for developing countries, the institute admitted 48 government officials, lawmakers, financial professionals and scholars from 27 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe for master's and doctoral degrees in September 2016.

The institute's first 26 postgraduates read out a thank-you letter to Xi at their commencement in July, thanking China for offering them the opportunity to learn Chinese experiences in the reform and opening-up.

In a reply last Wednesday to their letter, Xi said he was delighted that the students had benefited as the first graduates of the institute.

Xi said the purpose of the institute, as the students hoped, was promoting fair, inclusive and sustainable development.

"South-South Cooperation is a great cause for developing countries to grow stronger together and tackle challenges," Xi said. "China will give full play to the role of the institute and help developing countries to find a path of common development and prosperity."

"Your mission is to explore a sustainable development path that suits your own country and become leaders of national reform and development," Xi said.