On November 19, Yang Xianjin, the Vice Governor of Fujian Province, led an education system delegation to visit Tianjin University to seek cooperation in the higher education field. TJU Party Secretary Li Jiajun, and President Zhong Denghua, among other university leaders, attended the meeting.

President Zhong extended a warm welcome to the delegation. He emphasized that Vice Governor Yang’s visit to Tianjin University provided an opportunity for TJU to make efforts towards Fujian’s development. Moreover, he shared with the delegation the achievements of TJU in talent training, innovative engineering construction, and international work. He said that the abundant economic base and livable ecological environment of Fujian Province laid a solid foundation for cooperation in the higher education field and he wished the upcoming cooperation a success.

Focusing on cooperation issues, the participants of the both sides proposed possible cooperation fields, including the Georgia Tech Tianjin University Shenzhen Institute development, and the project for the Fuzhou Binhai International Education City at the Fuzhou Binhai New City. They also exchanged information on talent training cooperation in higher education.

Yang Xianjin and Li Jiajun made concluding remarks at the meeting. Yang pointed out that Fujian Province boasts a fine revolutionary tradition and a tradition of respecting teachers and valuing education. Today, with rapid economic development, Fujian has a more urgent demand for talented people. Along with promoting higher education in Fujian Province, Fujian also hoped to achieve development with the help of external forces, especially universities with solid and strong resources like Tianjin University. Yang also stressed that provincial governments and local governments are attaching great importance to education and strongly supporting high-level cooperation.

Li Jiajun stated that Tianjin University pays attention to cultivating students’ sense of social responsibility. TJU leaders are fully confident of promoting cooperation, and the relevant departments and offices collaborate with each other, and implement efficient measures.

During the meeting, both sides reached a consensus on the cooperation in that they would set up a working group and make plans as soon as possible. Both sides expressed a strong determination for enabling joint efforts in the future.

 Editors: Sun Xiaofang and Ross Colquhoun