ZJU strengthens European ties through high-level visits to Germany and the Netherlands

From March 11 to 13, a delegation led by MA Yanming, President of Zhejiang University, visited Germany and the Netherlands, further expanding the university’s network of partnerships in Europe.

The year 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the partnership between Zhejiang University and RWTH Aachen University. As a flagship event of Zhejiang University’s “Global Partnership Year of Europe,” the two universities jointly hosted the 6th Sino-German Sustainable Development Forum in Aachen, Germany, where scholars and university leaders engage in-depth discussions onfuture collaboration, particularly in the field of sustainability research.

LU Yongxiang, former President of Zhejiang University and a graduate of RWTH Aachen University, sent a congratulatory letter to the forum. Reflecting on four decades of cooperation between the two universities, he believed that, through the continued efforts of faculty and students on both sides, the partnership would open a new chapter and continue to play a pivotal role in Sino-German cooperation in science, technology, and social development.

Opening remarks were delivered by Ma Yanming and RWTH Aachen University Rector Ulrich Rüdiger. Looking back on 40 years of collaboration in talent cultivation, academic research, and technological innovation, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to using the partnership as a platform for deeper people-to-people exchange and closer scientific and technological collaboration between China and Germany, thereby contributing to global sustainable development.

Ruth Schimanowski addressed the forum on behalf of the German Academic Exchange Service. She spoke highly of the forum’s outcomes and emphasized the importance of joint research and talent development in advancing Sino-German cooperation in higher education and achieving mutual benefit. YU Yong, Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Düsseldorf, congratulated the forum on its success and described the cooperation between the two universities as a paradigm of practical collaboration in higher education between China and Germany.

YANG Huayong, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Zhejiang University, and Sven Klinkel, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, delivered keynote lectures at the plenary session. Parallel sessions organized by the School of Mechanical Engineering and the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture explored topics such as green industrial transformation and smart urban systems.

During the visit to Aachen, MA Yanming held university-level talks with Ulrich Rüdiger and visited the RWTH Collective Incubator. Both sides agreed to further deepen the partnership, strengthen academic exchanges, and explore new models of cooperation.

At Goethe University Frankfurt, MA Yanming met with President Enrico Schleiff and the two signed a new university-level Memorandum of Understanding. MA Yanming reviewed the achievements of cooperation between the two institutions in science, law, business, and China studies, and expressed hope that both sides would continue to deepen collaboration and cultivate outstanding talent. Enrico Schleiff said that he looked forward to leading a delegation to visit Zhejiang University in the not-too-distant future to promote faculty and student exchanges and strengthen cooperation in research and innovation.

In the Netherlands, MA Yanming met with Luc Sels, President of the Executive Board of Leiden University, where the two universities signed a new university-level Memorandum of Understanding. MA Yanming expressed hope for closer collaboration in areas such as global governance, technology transfer, and cultural exchange. Luc Sels said he hoped to further strengthen the university-level partnership with Zhejiang University by encouraging personnel exchanges, enhancing disciplinary connectivity, and exploring multilateral cooperation opportunities.

During their stay in the Netherlands, the delegation also visited Leiden University’s campus in The Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, and Leiden Bio Science Park.

This visit underscored Zhejiang University’s commitment to building deeper and more dynamic partnerships with leading European institutions, while contributing to international collaboration in higher education, research and innovation.

Source: Office of Global Engagement, Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs
Translator: FANG Fumin
Editor: HAN Xiao