Former Latvian President Andris Bērziņš visits Zhejiang University

On the afternoon of May 24, former President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš led a delegation to visit Zhejiang University (ZJU), where they were warmly received by Vice President ZHOU Jianghong.

During the meeting, Professor ZHOU Jianghong provided an overview of ZJU’s recent developments in academic programs, research innovation, and talent cultivation. He emphasized the University’s commitment to global engagement, noting its growing ties with Latvia in fields such as language, cultural studies, and communications technology. He also expressed a strong desire to deepen collaboration with Latvian universities, encouraging more Latvian students to pursue studies and academic exchange at ZJU as a way to further strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

Mr. Andris Bērziņš expressed his gratitude for the warm reception. He praised China’s remarkable development and ZJU’s reputation for academic excellence and innovation, particularly in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence. This, he said, fully reflects the vital role of China’s higher education in advancing the global knowledge system. He highlighted Latvia’s strong interest in deepening cooperation in academia and expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for greater cultural and academic exchanges between China and Latvia.

Representatives from ZJU’s College of Information Science & Electronic Engineering and the International College shared insights into their academic strengths and international education initiatives.

Ervins Gorelovs, a Latvian alumnus of ZJU’s School of Management and founder of Hangzhou-based tech company Ouwen Landou Co., Ltd., spoke on behalf of Latvian graduates. He shared his study experience at Zhejiang University and his entrepreneurial journey in Hangzhou after graduation. Gorelovs credited ZJU’s comprehensive disciplinary strengths, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and Hangzhou’s supportive business environment for creating vast opportunities for international students.

After the meeting, the delegation toured the International College’s poster exhibition for the “2nd Yangtze River Delta Academic Exchange Program for High-Level International Students”, and visited international student dormitories, gaining firsthand insight into campus life and the academic environment for international students at ZJU.

Adapted and translated from the article by the Office of Global Engagement, Zhejiang University
Translator: FANG Fumin
Photo: Office of Global Engagement, Zhejiang University   
Editor: TIAN Minjie