Peking University, Mar. 18, 2011: Professor John Hearn, deputy vice chancellor (international) of the University of Sydney (USYD), chief executive of the Worldwide Universities Network, and chairman of the Confucius Institute Board, visited Peking University (PKU) on the afternoon of March 15, 2011. Professor Li Yansong, vice president of PKU, together with Xia Hongwei, director of the Office of International Relations at PKU, gave the guests a warm reception at Lusi Hall of Huxin Island.
They recalled and discussed the cooperation projects in different areas between the two universities. PKU also invited USYD to attend the Beijing Form to be held this November, during which PKU will organize a special panel session for the university.
Professor Li Yansong looked back on the situation and achievement of deep cooperation between PKU and USYD with Professor John Hearn, including the cooperating projects with PKU Health Science Center, the Beijing Forum, the China Center at USYD, and the student exchanges as well as mutual faculty visits. Both sides emphasized the importance of improving the quality of the existing projects while encouraging more exchanges of students and faculties. They also agreed to expand the investment in money and resources to make more research breakthroughs in the dominant areas. Minister Xia Hongwei also reviewed the cooperation projects between the two universities in detail and discussed the possibility of exchanging students to attend the summer schools.
After the meeting, Professor John Hearn had an interview with journalists. He has been to China many times since 1979, first as a scientist to do research in the conservation of pandas in Sichuan and then as a senior advisor from World Health Organization (WHO) to do research in maternal and child hygiene in China. Now as the vice president of USYD, Professor John Hearn is actively seeking to establish partnerships with the universities in China.
In talking about the reasons for the expansion of contacts between USYD and the universities in China, Professor Hearn pointed out that the Asia-Pacific Region especially China is playing a more important role in the international affairs. For the important role education plays in the Sino-Australian relation, the knowledge exchange will be useful in building a harmonious Sino-Australian relationship. He also expressed that both China and Australia were facing the problems and challenges, such as environment, food safety, employment, and innovation. Besides, there're many overseas Chinese in Australia. Thus, it's becoming more urgent to understand each other's culture along with the more and more frequent contacts between the two countries' people.
Background info:
The University of Sydney, founded in 1850, is considered as one of the preeminent universities in Australia.
To learn more about the University of Sydney, you can visit its website at http://www.usyd.edu.au
Beijing Forum, an international forum co-sponsored by Peking University, Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, and the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, is approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and under the auspices of the Beijing Municipal Government with the general theme "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All".
To learn more about Beijing Forum, you can visit its website at http://www.beijingforum.org/
Translated by: Zhang Hao
Edited by: Su Juan
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
