On the afternoon of May 19, Caroline Wilson, British Ambassador to China, and her colleagues visited Lanzhou University (LZU). MA Xiaojie, Party secretary of LZU met with the guests at the university' s Chengguan Campus. WANG Wei, vice-president of LZU also attended the meeting.
After welcoming the delegation, MA offered an overview of LZU' s history, academic strengths, and international collaborations. He noted that the university has remained rooted in China' s western region since its foundation 116 years ago, developing distinct advantages in disciplines such as chemistry, ecology, and grassland science. LZU has established scientific research stations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to conduct long-term dynamic monitoring of glaciers and ecological environment, which contribute significantly to global climate research. Its research in Dunhuang studies has also played a vital role in promoting cultural heritage preservation and international exchange as well. MA pointed out that LZU has a profound history of educational cooperation with the United Kingdom, and has established a multi-level cooperative mechanism with 26 British universities in areas such as geological science, ecology, and medicine. These collaborations have yielded fruitful research outcomes. In particular, LZU Wales College, established with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, has become an example of Sino-British higher education cooperation. MA hopes that with continued support from the British Embassy in China, the two sides could further deepen cooperation in education, science and technology, and talent development, while promoting mutual understanding. He also welcomes more young people from the UK to study at LZU, experience the distinctive culture of northwest China, and jointly build an open network of higher education collaboration.
Wilson commended LZU' s steadfast commitment to higher education and its achievements in partnerships with British institutions. She noted that there is immense potential for cooperation between China and the UK in various areas. She called for deepening collaboration by expanding faculty and student exchanges and transforming research outcomes as ways to innovate cooperation models. She emphasized joint innovation in fields such as healthcare, climate change, and digital education to advance mutually beneficial development. Wilson also underscored the UK' s strong interest in cooperation with LZU in areas including sustainable development, public health, and digital curricula. The British Embassy would actively assist LZU in connecting with high-quality educational resources in the UK, support the two sides in exploring new models of combining industry, learning and research, thus promoting resource sharing. Furthermore, the British Embassy will also help enhance global understanding of Dunhuang culture through related projects.
During the visit, Wilson and her colleagues also visited LZU' s Management Center of Scientific Observing Stations.
Also present at the event were heads of Foreign Affairs Office of the People' s Government of Gansu Province, and LZU' s Office of the University and Office of International Cooperation and Exchange.
