(Front row, from left to right) Xiaoyun Zhu, vice president of Westlake University, and Shi Jin, vice president of Southeast University of China, who both signed the agreement.

(Back row, from left to right) Prof. Yigong Shi, president of Westlake University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Ru Huang, president of Southeast University of China and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who both attended the event and delivered speeches.

Westlake University and Southeast University of China signed a cooperative framework agreement at the Jiulonghu Campus of Southeast University on Jan. 5.

Prof. Yigong Shi, president of Westlake University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Ru Huang, president of Southeast University of China and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the event and delivered speeches. Xiaoyun Zhu, vice president of Westlake University, and Shi Jin, vice president of Southeast University of China, signed the agreement on behalf of both universities.

As an internationally renowned institution of advanced education, Southeast University is a key national university managed directly by the Ministry of Education. It is also one of the key universities for the national 985 Project and the 211 Project. Westlake University is an institution with world-class excellence in cutting-edge research and innovative teaching, a new type of nonprofit private university supported by public and private funding, aiming to make breakthroughs in original theory and core technologies.

The agreement establishes a partnership that will strengthen inter-university exchanges and cooperation between the institutions and serve the strategic needs of China based on the complementary advantages of the universities, resource sharing, and mutually beneficial collaboration. The parties are committed to training exceptional innovative talent and contributing to vital higher education reform in China.

Huang spoke highly of Westlake’s active exploration and outstanding results in higher education reform. She expressed the hope that she would see the two universities combining their advantages and deepening cooperation in talent training, scientific research, and the development of major medical disciplines. She also looked forward to the two jointly exploring the path toward becoming world-class universities with Chinese characteristics and making positive contributions to China’s rejuvenation.

Shi introduced Westlake’s management and organization from the perspectives of talent development, scientific research achievements, and disciplinary advantages. He emphasized that Westlake upholds its positioning as an “excellent, refined, and research-oriented” university and thrives on making a positive contribution to China’s education and innovation. He expressed the hope that this agreement will be an opportunity for both universities to pool resources and deepen cooperation.

According to the agreement, the two universities will actively promote exchange and cooperation in student education and talent development and will collaborate on interdisciplinary scientific research in areas such as life sciences.