President Zhang Zongyi of Chongqing University met with Dominic Barton, Canadian Ambassador in China, in Room 213, No. 1 Building on the afternoon of June 18, 2020. Tang Wen, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, Jeff David, consul general of Consulate General of Canada in Chongqing, Consul Oussamah Tamim, Consul Michael Dodd, Education Commissioner Liao Zhong and Vice President Ming Ju of Chongqing University were also present at the meeting.

Zhang Zongyi extended his warm welcome to Dominic Barton and his companions and gave an introduction to the development overview and disciplinary characteristics of Chongqing University. Zhang pointed out that Chongqing University attached great importance to cooperation and exchange with colleges and universities of Canada and the two sides had been in material cooperation in a number of areas such as computers, quantum information technology, light alloy and strong alloys. Zhang expressed his wish to further strengthen practical cooperation with colleges, universities, scientific research institutions and enterprises of Canada in areas such as economic management, medicine and other advantageous areas, with support granted by Embassy of Canada in China and Consulate General of Canada in Chongqing, so as to achieve mutual benefits.

Dominic Barton said that first-rate universities and colleges were of great significance for the development of cities, regions and even the country. Chongqing University, as a comprehensive university with complete disciplines, is located in the economic development growth zone of southwest China and plays an important role in development and construction of a city. Dominic Barton expressed his hope that the relation between Chongqing University and Canada’s colleges and universities would grow closer in the future and that more Canadian students would come to study in Chongqing University and learn more about the local culture and economic development.

According to Ming Ju, Chongqing University has prominent advantages in disciplines such as machinery manufacturing, new energy, information science, building and biological medicine, and first-rate scientific research teams. Ming expressed his hope that Chongqing University would cooperate further with high-level research teams of Canada in areas such as precision medicine, massive health, public health, life science and industrial technologies.

The two sides had photos taken to mark the occasion after the meeting.

Liu Guoxiang, dean of Medical School and director of the Faculty of Medicine, Yang Jun, dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration, Xu Jun, director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and Deputy Director Gao Xiang, and Xu Guo, vice president of Institute of Scientific Research and Development, were also present at the event.

Photography: Zhang Xin, Gao Fan