From October 23 to November 1, the Education Seminar on “the Belt and Road” Initiative in Central and Eastern Europe for 2018, entrusted by the Ministry of Education and organized by China Education Association for International Exchange, was held in Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia respectively to further strengthen educational cooperation and exchanges with central and eastern European countries. Prof. Gang Wenzhe, Vice Chair of CUPL Council and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, and his delegation was invited to visit the three countries and to attend the seminar.
(The delegation visits the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria)
During the visit to Bulgaria, the delegation visited University of National and World Economy, International Cooperation and European Integration Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria, Sofia University, Todor Kableshkov University of Transport as well as the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Technical University of Sofia. The delegation also attended a variety of events such as the China-Bulgaria Higher Education Rector Forum (Politics, Economics and Humanities), China-Bulgaria Vocational Education Rector Forum, China-Bulgaria Higher Education Rector Forum (Science, Technology and Engineering). During the visit, Prof. Gang Wenzhe held working exchanges respectively with Zhang Haizhou, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria, Prof. Statty Stattev, Rector of University of National and World Economy, Prof. Nikolay Vitanov, Vice-Rector of Sofia University, and Prof. Georgy Mihov, President of Technical University of Sofia.
In the afternoon of October 24, Prof. Gang Wenzhe was invited to visit the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and gave a lecture on “Learning the Disciplinary Measures of the Communist Party of China and Do Not Touch the High-Volume Line of Discipline” for all the embassy staff. Ambassador Zhang Haizhou led all the staff to listen carefully, discuss and exchange views concerning the lecture. The participants highly praised the lecture given by Prof. Gang Wenzhe.
During the visit to Romania, the delegation visited Transilvania University of Brașov, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine respectively and attend the 70th anniversary celebration activities in Transilvania University of Brașov and the China-Romania Higher Education Rector Forum. Prof. Gang Wenzhe held working exchanges respectively with Prof. Sorin Mihai Cimpeanu, Chairman of the Council of University Presidents in Romania, Prof. Ioan Vasile Abrudan, President of Transilvania University of Brașov, Prof. Ovidiu Folcut, President of Romanian-American University, Prof. Ioan Bondrea, President of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, and Prof. Florin Stanica, Vice-President of University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. Foreign universities looked forward to cooperating with CUPL in academic cooperation, student exchanges and staff exchange, and hoped to continue deepen exchanges and expand cooperation.
In the morning of October 26, Prof. Gang Wenzhe, as a representative of Chinese universities, was invited to give a keynote speech on “Cultural Prosperity, Win-Win Cooperation and Promoting in-Depth Cooperation between Chinese and Romanian Universities” at the China-Romania Higher Education Rector Forum. Prof. Gigel Paraschiv, Romania's Secretary of State for Higher Education, along with more than 100 presidents, vice-presidents and heads of international departments from more than 60 universities in China and Romania attended the forum. Prof. Adrian Lacatus, Director of Confucius Institute at Transilvania University of Brașov, gave a speech and spoke highly of the exchange and cooperation developed by CUPL based on the platform of Confucius Institutes. Later, in the talks, Prof. Gang Wenzhe and representatives of Romanian Universities reached consensus on developing inter-school cooperation and strengthening exchanges. The two sides invited each other to visit their countries in the future.
(Prof. Gang Wenzhe giving a keynote speech at the China-Romania Higher Education Rector Forum)
In the morning of October 28, Prof. Gang Wenzhe led the delegation to visit the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest (the CI at UB), Romania, and discuss with directors and volunteer teachers of the Confucius Institute. During the meeting, Prof. Gang Wenzhe spoke highly of the outstanding achievements made by the CI at the University of Bucharest in the past five years and expressed his earnest hope for the CI. Zhou Sizhu, Vice-President of Yangtze University, Zeng Yajun, Director of the International Office, CUPL, were invited to join the delegation and exchanged views on the preparation of a new Confucius Institute.
(The delegation visited the Confucius Institute co-established by CUPL at the University of Bucharest,Romania)
During the visit to Croatia, the delegation visited University of Zagreb, Algebra University College, and attended the China-Croatia Higher Education Institutions Forum. Hu Zhaoming, Chinese Ambassador to Croatia, Prof. Branka Ramljak, State Secretary of Ministry of Science and Education and more than 200 teachers and students from dozens of colleges and universities in China and Croatia participated in the forum. Prof. Gang Wenzhe, exchanged views with Prof. Damir Boras, University of Zagreb and other counterparts in Croatia. Prof. Gang Wenzhe introduced the history and characteristics of CUPL, especially the international development strategy and "double first-tier" program under the background of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. Croatian universities stated that they would continue to support further and continuous cooperation with CUPL in staff and student exchanges and academic research.
It was reported that the China-Central and Eastern European League of Colleges and Universities was launched in Tianjin on September 22, 2014. CUPL was one of the first 14 domestic universities to join the League. This visit laid a good foundation for CUPL to expand inter-school exchanges, deepen international cooperation and expand global influence in Central and Eastern European countries. Qu Xin, Deputy Director of the Office of Confucius Institute, accompanied the delegation during the visit.
