On 27 April, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang visited the University of Manchester and met with the President, Dame Nancy Rothwell, and University faculties and students.
While meeting with President Rothwell, Ambassador Zheng said that the University of Manchester, as a higher education institution well-known in the UK and around the world, has a remarkable reputation for its openness, innovation, and excellence in education. The University's open and inclusive culture attracts students from all over the world. Chinese students are particularly attracted by the University, and there are currently about 9,000 Chinese students studying here. In 2015, President Xi Jinping took a trip to the University during his state visit to the UK. The cooperation between the University and its peers in China in various areas entered the fast lane. Such cooperation is in the interest of both sides and has contributed positively to the enhancement of teaching, research and academic quality on both sides.
Ambassador Zheng also shared with President Rothwell and the professors present at the meeting information about China’s key achievements in coordinating pandemic prevention and control with economic and social development, emphasizing that China stays committed to the dynamic zero-COVID policy. China always regards people's life and health as the top priority and is making every effort to contain the spread of the new Omicron variant. China will continue to make economic stability its top priority and pursue progress while ensuring stability, to deepen reforms across the board while expanding opening-up at a higher level, and to accelerate high-quality development. The fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential, and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. He said that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the exchange and cooperation with the University of Manchester, and thanked the University for creating a safe environment for Chinese students during the pandemic. Ambassador Zheng expressed his confidence that after the pandemic, there will be new development in the academic and people-to-people exchanges between the Chinese side and the University of Manchester, as well as other British universities.
President Rothwell said that the University of Manchester was honored to receive a visit from President Xi Jinping in 2015. The University attaches high importance to developing exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities and has benefited greatly by doing so. It is also proud to have attracted an increasing number of Chinese students. The Chinese students are hardworking, smart and demonstrating good all-round qualities. The University will continue to create a safe and positive environment for all students and looks forward to resuming personnel and face-to-face exchanges with Chinese universities after the pandemic.
During the visit, Ambassador Zheng visited representatives of Chinese students and had a discussion with students, both Chinese and non-Chinese, from the University. The students talked about their campus lives and the "pair-up" programme for Chinese students and Chinese language learners. Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and new problems and challenges keep emerging. China call on all countries to stay committed to unity and cooperation, and firmly oppose division and confrontation. China always stands on the side of peace, on the side of the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and on the right side of history. He encouraged the students to study hard, gain more knowledge, learn from each other, enhance friendship and aspire to be builders of peace, promoters of cooperation and disseminators of friendship.
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Fonded in 1824, the University of Manchester is a world-renowned comprehensive research university and a founding member of the Russell Group. The University has established a wide range of academic cooperation with Chinese universities.
