On July 11, 2017, David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, visits Chongqing University, and attends the round-table conference on “science, technology and innovation”. At the conference, David Johnston has discussion with officials and scholars from universities of China and Canada with regard to cooperative research opportunities in such areas as science, technology and innovation.
The campus of Chongqing University takes on a fantastic view in July. At about 9 o’clock in the morning, Governor General David Johnston and his delegation arrive at the Main Teaching Building of Chongqing University. Later, they are led by Deputy Mayor Liu Guiping of Chongqing to the VIP Reception Room on the 5th floor, where they are welcomed by Zhou Xun, the secretary of Chongqing University CPC Committee, Zhou Xuhong, President of Chongqing University, and two old friends of David Johnston, Wu Zhongfu, former President of Chongqing University, and Wu Yansun, former Director of Canadian Studies Center. Zhou Xun presents an album of pictures to Governor General David Johnston as a gift. Those pictures were taken when David Johnston visited Chongqing University in 2002 when he was acting as the President of the University of Waterloo, and in 2010 when he was signing a cooperation agreement with Chongqing University on a visit to Chongqing. Canada has another name, “Land of Maple”; so David Johnston presets Chongqing University with a handmade maple model and says that: “It feels home to be in Chongqing University”.
At the end of the meeting, David Johnston and his delegation attend the round table conference themed “science, technology and innovation” held in Conference Room 506 of the Main Teaching Building. David Johnston gives an introduction to the scientific research cooperation between China and Canada and that between Canada and Chongqing, and highlights the significance of the cooperation with a well-known saying of Jefferson, an American ideologist, that “Lit a candle lights others, also won't bring their darkness.” The Governor General says that he has a profound Chinese complex, and his daughters are all learning Chinese. Now his grandchildren often tell him things about China. He adds that he has acted as a university president for 27 years and therefore knows every detail about cooperation between universities. David Johnston expresses his hope that the discussion focuses on innovation, science and education, and the future cooperation opportunities and challenges, as well as additional potential cooperation areas.
Zhou Xuhong, President of Chongqing University, delivers a speech and extends welcome to the Governor General, his delegation and honored guests from China. Zhou Xuhong says that the communication between Chongqing University and Canada has a long history and the relation between the two is growing closer and closer. In 2002 and 2010, David Johnston, then acting as the president of University of Waterloo, visited Chongqing and Chongqing University. Now, Chongqing University has maintained a close cooperation and exchange relation with 7 Canadian universities, including the University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia and University of Alberta. Zhou Xuhong adds that in recent 5 years, more than 200 Chongqing University students were sent to study in Canada, and 75 Canadian students were also sent to Chongqing University. More than 100 teachers of CQU have studied or worked in Canada. Furthermore, more than 6 Canadian teachers are working in CQU. In particular, Professor Li Wenyuan was elected a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2015. In addition, CQU has also cooperated with the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia in areas such as new-generation quantum information technology, light alloy and strong alloy.
Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, Liu Guiping, Deputy Mayor of Chongqing, Wu Kangming, Director of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, Zhang Zongyi, Deputy Secretary of Chongqing University CPC Committee, Yang Dan, Managing Vice President, Liu Hanlong, Vice President, John McCallum, Canadian Ambassador to China, and Ouyang Fei, Consul General in Chongqing, and the delegation members have heated discussion at the round table conference.
Yang Lin, Secretary of Yunnan University CPC Committee, Zhang Weiguo, President of Southwest University, Chen Rong, Secretary of Chongqing Medical University CPC Committee, Xiong Caidong, Vice President of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and other university officials and researchers also share their experience at the conference and join the discussion with regard to research cooperation in areas like science, technology and innovation.
After the round table conference, David Johnston and his delegation walk to Meeting Room 213 of No. 1 Main Building, where he awards the “Canadian Governor General Visit Medal” to 3 medal winners. On the way, David Johnston waves his hand and smiles to teachers and students of Chongqing University.
At dusk of July 11, 22 Chongqing University students who have studied or will study in Canada have hot pot in Nanshan Mountain with the Governor General David Johnston.
It is reported that this is the second time that David Johnston has visited China as a Governor General. The visit to CQU is the first event in this visit to China. David Johnston visits China from July 10 to 14 on invitation. The delegation is made up of leaders of Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Enterprise and Tourism of the Canadian Government and leader of House of Representatives of the Canadian Government and Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Department of Sports and the Disabled, as well as well-known leaders in areas such as education, research, sports, tourism and culture. At last, they make a commitment to collaborate with China and strengthen cooperation between China and Canada.
