On Friday 19th October 2007, a Symposium focusing on EU-China higher education policy and cooperation issues was held in Beijing, China. EU high-level officials including H.E. Mr. Serge ABOU (EU Ambassador, Delegation of the European Commission to the PR of China and Mongolia), H.E. Mr. Quartin SANTOS (Ambassador of Portugal to the PR of China, EU Presidency), and Mr.
Jan FIGEl (EU Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, European Commission ) attended the opening ceremony of the symposium. Also present at the opening ceremony were Ms. WU Qidi, Vice-Minister of Education (MOE) of the PR of China, and Mr. ZHENG Guoan, Deputy Secretary General of Science and Technology of The PR of China.
On behalf of Tianjin University, Professor YANG Fuling, Director of International Cooperation Office, and Mr. LUO Zhen, Deputy Director of Science and Technology attended the symposium and joined the panel discussion on the theme of International Cooperation in Higher Education with Focus on EU Programs and Opportunities for European and Chinese Higher Education Institutions .
During the discussion, presentations with regard to EU programs, including Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program were given by European representatives and Chinese representatives of higher education institutions. The participants also addressed the case studies of 7th framework of Asia-Link Projects .
Sponsored by EU Commission and China Scholarship Council, the main objective of the Asia-Link Symposium is to provide a platform for high-level dialogue between government officials, key senior managers and policy makers from China and Europe and representatives from higher education institutions and academic networks.