President of Shandong University Xu Xianming led a delegation to visit four universities in France and two in Sweden between December 5th to 12th , including University of Rennes 1, University of Rennes 2, National Institute for Applied Sciences of Rennes (INSA), and the Confucius Institute in Brittany in France, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Kungliga Tekniska högskolan (KTH) in Sweden.

During his visit at the University of Rennes 1, Xu reviewed the history of the two universities' cooperation together with its Vice President Pierre Van De Weghe. Xu also introduced the comprehensive information and internationalization development strategy of SDU, and expressed his hope for further cooperation in multiple areas such as law, physics, chemistry, material and medicine based on the existing cooperation between the two universities. The two shared one the same aim, which is to expand their cooperation in areas such as talent cultivation and scientific research. Xu also met with the Vice President of the University of Rennes 2, Catherine Loneux. Both wished to consolidate and further develop the student cooperation projects, encourage professors to exchange visits and develop a multi-discipline and multi-level pattern of cooperation. During Xu's visit in INSA -- Rennes, they signed a framework agreement on cooperation between the two universities, which they hope will encourage exchanges and cooperation in information, communication, material, mechanical engineering and other areas, as well as expand the cooperative doctoral training project and enlarge the joint laboratory construction.

While visiting the Institute Confucius in Bretagne, Xu delivered his sincere gratitude to both the regional government of Bretagne and the city government of Rennes for their support of Confucius Institute. Xu also expressed his appreciation for the efforts that the Confucius Institute has done to spread Chinese culture, promote cooperation between Bretagne and Shandong Province, between Rennes and Jinan, as well as between universities there and Shandong University. He would like to see that the Confucius Institute keep its current features and expand people-to-people exchanges, which would in turn promote the communication and cooperation between SDU and this region.

Xu and his delegation then went to Sweden to visit Karolinska Institutet. They had a lively discussion with its Vice President Jan Andersson and President Elect Anders Hamsten on several areas, including constructing joint laboratory and cooperative research platforms, enlarging scientific research areas, intensifying people-to-people exchanges and communication, exploring various cooperative training patterns for master and doctoral students. Both expected to develop substantial cooperation as soon as possible.

During his stay in France and Sweden, Xu attended the launch of the Alumni Association of SDU in Sweden. He also visited students from SDU who are now studying at the University Rennes 2, INSA--Rennes and Karolinska Institutet, and expressed his concern for and expectation of them. Zhu Xiaoyu, Minister Counselor of the Education Division of Chinese Embassy in France, and Lan Lijun, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden, held talks with Xu respectively. Both gave support and great attention to the international exchanges and cooperation of SDU.

The SDU delegation included the following people：Zou Nan，director of SDU International Affairs Department, Zhao Shengtian, director of Second Hospital of SDU, Zheng Chengyun, director of Department of Hematology of Second Hospital, and other officials from the University Offices, SDU International Affairs Department and the Medical School.

Written by: Kang Huijie

Photo by: Hu Shuang

Edited by: Ben Hammer, Jing Zizhao

Source:www.en.sdu.edu.cn,www.view.sdu.edu.cn