On the afternoon of 12 April，SDU President Zhang Rong met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the eighth Global Colloquium of University Presidents on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

During the meeting, President Zhang made a brief introduction to the history and the school-running characteristics of the SDU. He not only introduced cooperation between SDU and the UN, but also mentioned SDU alumni’s special contributions to the UN and SDU’s outstanding performances in many events such as the Model United Nations and so on. President Zhang said that Shandong University is committed to promoting exchange among different civilizations. The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations has been held successfully by Shandong University for three times. As an open and inclusive university, SDU actively participates in international cooperation. Still, SDU attache great importance to the traditional education, particularly in protecting and developing traditional Chinese culture. Besides, the Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies at Shandong University is a leading research center of Confucianism in China. When talking about the advantages on the research about East and Northeast Asia issues, President Zhang mentioned that the Shandong Forum would be jointly held with the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS) in Jinan this October. Finally, he invited the Secretary-General to visit Shandong University in a proper time.

Secretary-General Ban looked back his visit to Shandong Province in the last year. He said that as a South Korean, Shandong Province has a special meaning to him because it is the nearest province and a good neighbor to South Korea, which is separated only by a strip of water with the Korean Peninsula. Secretary-General Ban appreciated the SDU’s fruitful achievements in cooperation with the UN and its support and contributions to the UN's programs. He also expressed his appreciation for the President’s invitation and participation. In the end, both sides agreed on further enhancing exchange and cooperation between SDU and the UN.

Cristina Gallach, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, CHANG Wook-jin, Special Assistant to the Secretary General, and Farhan Haq, the UN Deputy Spokesperson attended the meeting with Ban Ki-moon. Staff from the School of History and Culture as well as the Department of International Affairs also participated in this meeting.

The eighth Global Colloquium of University Presidents was hosted by Yale University, which invited presidents and principals of 30 universities and research institutions worldwide to have a seminar concerning the preservation of cultural heritage. Shandong University is one of the two Chinese universities invited. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the meeting and delivered a report.

Translated by Chen Shangmin, Meng Shuai

Edited by Song Yijun

Photo by Song Chunling

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http://news.yale.edu/2016/04/14/focus-cultural-heritage-global-colloquium-university-presidents