From July 2 to 10, Academician You Zheng, President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), was invited to lead a delegation to France, Belgium, and Germany to deepen cooperation in education, science and technology, talent training, as well as cultural exchange.

At RWTH Aachen University, You Zheng and the university’s Rector Ulrich Rüdige attended the University Partnership Day and renewed the student exchange agreement. Both sides reviewed the solid foundation of practical cooperation since 2012 and reached a consensus on jointly cultivating outstanding engineers and establishing joint research centers. During the joint academic seminar on engineering disciplines, the heads of the mechanical, electrical and civil engineering faculties from both universities introduced their research progress and cooperation initiatives respectively.

At the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, You Zheng met with Professor Ferenc Krausz, Director of the institute and the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physics. The two sides reached a consensus on strengthening the integration of medicine and engineering and signed a scientific research cooperation agreement.

At Université Paris-Saclay, You Zheng attended the 20th anniversary celebration of the Optical Sino-French Class between the two universities and pointed out that as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, the joint celebration is of far-reaching significance. The program represents an important exploration for both sides to integrate their advantageous resources and jointly train leading talents in optoelectronics. It is hoped that both universities will continue to innovate their training models, expand areas of cooperation, and realize two-way student mobility, thereby establishing this program as a flagship brand for Sino-French education of outstanding engineers. The two universities renewed their cooperation agreement for the Optical Sino-French Class.

At the Free University of Brussels, You Zheng signed a student exchange agreement with the university’s Rector Jan Danckaert. Both sides reached a consensus on continuing to successfully operate joint training programs and promote two-way student mobility.

HUST held the China-Europe Innovation Forum on University-Industry Linkage and Research Application at the China Belgium Technology Center. You Zheng emphasized that there is immense potential for China-Europe scientific and technological innovation cooperation, and that HUST is willing to work with European partners to continuously explore new pathways for the deep integration of industry, universities, research, and application, injecting new momentum into the development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the forum, keynote speeches were delivered by Liao Xiaofei, Director of HUST’s Research Development Office; Liu Jianfeng, Dean of HUST’s School of Life Science and Technology; Luc R. Taerwe, Director of the East Asia Platform at Ghent University; and Tugba Kabasakal, Chief of Engineering of Handary. In addition, a memorandum of understanding on deepening industry-university-research cooperation was signed between HUST’s School of Life Science and Technology, Handary, and the China Belgium Technology Center.

During the visit, You Zheng met with alumni from the Alumni Association in Benelux and the Alumni Association in Germany, and unveiled the plaques for the HUST Alumni Center Germany and the HUST Alumni Center Benelux. The HUST delegation also met with the Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, Fei Shengchao.

Written and Edited by: Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng