Australian Consul General in Shanghai visits Zhejiang University

On the afternoon of June 26, Zhejiang University welcomed Mr. John Williams, Australian Consul General in Shanghai, and his delegation for a campus visit aimed at strengthening educational and research ties between China and Australia. Vice President HUANG Xianhai received the delegation and held in-depth discussions on ongoing collaborations and future opportunities.

HUANG extended a warm welcome to the guests and introduced ZJU’s long-standing partnerships with Australian institutions. He noted that the university has established academic collaborations with nearly ten Australian universities, including the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and Monash University. These partnerships span faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, and dual-degree programs, particularly in fields such as sustainable development and medicine.

The discussion also highlighted ZJU’s leadership in the field of artificial intelligence. HUANG provided an overview of the university’s development in AI research and its application in educational innovation. He emphasized the university’s commitment to using AI to enhance teaching and learning, as well as to support interdisciplinary research.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope that the Australian Consulate General in Shanghai would continue to support youth exchanges and joint initiatives that harness the collective expertise of both countries to address shared challenges such as climate change, innovation, and sustainable development.

Consul General Williams commended ZJU for its academic distinction and strong global reputation, describing it as one of China’s oldest and most prominent universities. He praised the university’s impressive progress in AI and recognized the depth of its cooperation with Australian institutions.

“Zhejiang University’s work in AI talent cultivation, its innovation and entrepreneurship platforms, and its success in translating research into real-world impact are highly commendable,” he said. He encouraged more Australian students and researchers to engage with ZJU, and voiced his support for expanding bilateral cooperation in sustainability, innovation, and academic research.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to strengthening people-to-people connections and advancing cutting-edge research that contributes to global progress.

Adapted and translated from the article by SUN Mo

Translator: FANG Fumin 

Photos by Global ZJU

Editor: HE Jiawen, ZHU Ziyu