During Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, Secretary of XJTU CPC Committee, Zhang Maizeng led a delegation take take visits at University of Oxford, Cambridge University and University of Liverpool in the UK, Leiden University, The Netherlands, and SKEMA Business School and Université de technologie de Troyes (UTT) in France, with a view to drive concrete international cooperation. During the tour, the delegation visited International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Education Section of the Embassy of the PRC in France, and had talks with XJTU alumni.

In the afternoon of Oct. 1, Zhang Maizeng had a meeting with some XJTU teachers, students and alumni working or studying in the UK at University of Liverpool. The delegation introduced latest developments of XJTU in terms of talent policy and international cooperation. Zhang Maizeng extended best regards from XJTU to the teachers, students and alumni presented and wished them work and study well abroad, and encouraged them to provide advises. The meeting was Iive broadcast and received active response from XJTU alumni.

In the morning of Oct. 2, the delegation visited University of Liverpool and had a deep-going conversation with Executive Vice President Patrick Hackett, Vice President Gavin Brown and Anthony Hollander are from the University of Liverpool. The two parties reviewed the past and discussed deeply future cooperation on scientific research, talent development and the Universities Alliance of the New Silk Road. During the meeting, Zhang Maizeng highlighted the development plan of XJTU in the context of the development of World First-class Universities and Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour.

On Oct. 2 afternoon, the delegation visited University of Oxford and had talks with Executive Vice President Evan McKendrick, Honorary Professor of XJTU. The two parties discussed the mechanism of joint education and scientific research. Dean of the Faculty of Law Anne Davies and Darren Nash representing the Medical School from the Oxford attended the meeting. After then, the delegation was guided by Lady Margaret Hall and met Treasurer Andrew Macdonald and Director of Student Affairs Fiona Spensley. The two parties had a deep conversation over student exchange programs. Representatives of newly-enrolled Chinese students in Oxford also attended the meeting.

On Oct. 3 morning, Zhang Maizeng paid a visit to Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge and witnessed the renewal of the talent development agreement between the centre and the School of Law, XJTU.

On Oct. 4 morning, Zhang Maizeng led the delegation to drop a visit at Leiden University, The Netherlands, and met with the President of Leiden University Carel Stolker. The two parties decided to work together on key fields of shared strength, including co-organizing international conferences, applying for China-Europe cooperation programs, and implementing joint education programs in diverse forms. Assistant to XJTU President LYU Yi and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Leiden University Pancras Hogendoorn signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Medicine. In the afternoon, Zhang Maizeng visited the Faculty of Science of Leiden University, held a conversation with ex-president Professor Douwe Breimer, and had a tour of the newly completed lab building.

On Oct. 5, Zhang Maizeng led the delegation to visit International Court of Justice in The Hague and had a close conversation with Her Excellency Judge Xue Hanqin over the development of talents with expertise in international law and international organizations. Then, Zhang Maizeng was met by Professor James Crawford, His Excellency Judge at International Court of Justice, a distinguished scholar in international law and chair professor engaged by XJTU under the Cheung Kong Scholars Program.

On Oct. 6, in the morning, the delegation visited SKEMA Business School and discussed student exchange programs, international education model and short-term training programs.

On Oct. 6, in the afternoon, Zhang Maizeng arrived at Université de technologie de Troyes (UTT) with the delegation and met by UTT President Pierre Koch. The two parties reached agreements on increasing the number of exchanging students, taking the joint programs to the next level and widening scopes of scientific cooperation. UTT was represented by Professor Michel Legault, Director of Department of International Communication, Professor Pascal Royer, Director of Department of Scientific Research and Dr. Gong Ling, Director of Asian Programs, Department of International Relations. After the meeting, Zhang Maizeng met 13 XJTU students studying at UTT, congratulated on their excellent performances and wished they would make use of the time when being abroad and yield fruitful results.

The delegation paid a visit to the Education Section of the Embassy of the PRC in France. Minister-Counsellor Yang Jin met the delegation and bid a warm welcome to XJTU on a tour of universities in France. He introduced the features of higher education in France and basic facts of China-France exchanges in higher education and wished XJTU would forge closer ties with universities in France. Zhang Maizeng introduced recent developments of XJTU, and highlighted the progress in the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbour. He said XJTU has made continued improvements in both hardware and software and spared no effort to attract talents at home and abroad in recent years, in hopes of offering a platform to young scholars around the world to realize their dreams. He wished the Education Section of the Embassy of the PRC in France would join in help and give more publicity to XJTU, encourage French students to study and young scholars to work at XJTU. Minister-Counsellor Yang Jin undertook to give full support to concrete cooperation between XJTU and universities in France.

On Oct. 7, in the morning, the delegation had a meeting with XJTU teachers, students and alumni working or studying in France, wished them to have a great success in France, and encouraged them to unite together and care for and support the development of XJTU. 

On Oct. 7, in the afternoon, the delegation, accompanied by research fellow Wu Yongzheng, paid a visit to The Pasteur Institute, and the Institute introduced its advanced scientific researches and management experiences.

Assistants to President, Lv Yi and Shan Wenhua, Director of the Department of Human Resources, Lei Lili and Director of the Department of International Cooperation & Exchanges, He Changzhong were in the delegation.