Partnership and Cooperation the key themes at the Opening of Bangor University's Office in Beijing, China

China Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), Director An, Yuxiang, British Ambassador Sebastian Wood and Prof HughesBangor University has officially opened an office in Beijing, China with the launch being led by the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor John G Hughes and including speeches by both the UK's Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood CMG and Director An Yuxiang of the Chinese Services Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). The event also included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CSCSE and Bangor University.

In his introduction Professor Hughes said "Bangor is well established as a destination of choice for Chinese students and China forms a key part of Bangor's strategy to recruit 20% of its students from overseas." However the underlying theme of the event was not one of recruitment but partnership, Bangor's commitment to which was illustrated by the agreement with CSCSE that was signed at the same event. Professor Hughes said "Partnership is the way forward and that is not just in the terms of student recruitment and exchange but in areas such as research collaboration and quality assurance. These partnerships need to be underpinned by deep, trusting relationships and joint activities." He went on to add "In my opinion the UK Education sector has a lot to learn from their Chinese counterparts. This new office and the MoU with CSCSE demonstrate Bangor's intention to be at the forefront of this knowledge exchange."

Ambassador Wood chats with Prof John G. HughesIn his address Ambassador Wood took up the partnership theme saying, "The Prime Ministers of both China and the UK have recently confirmed their commitment to a 'Partnership for Growth' in which they will contribute to each others development strategies." He went on to talk about how, as China moved into the next phase of its development that the UK was well placed to be a valuable ally in the development of the Chinese service sector particularly in areas such as finance, business and education. He concluded by congratulating Bangor on the establishment of its Beijing office saying "I am confident that it will lead to a further deepening of Bangor's relationships with its Chinese partners to mutual benefit."

Before signing the MoU Director Yuxiang, again echoing the theme of partnership, said that "It is a special day for the CSCSE and Bangor as this MoU will deepen cooperation between the two institutions, to the benefit of both, and provide greater opportunities for Chinese students."

Summing up the success of the event Dr Xinyu Wu, Bangor's International Development Director concluded by saying that she expected that this type of activity would allow partners to increase "Mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutually beneficial collaborations."

Vice Chancellor Prof John G. Hughes with the Director of the Beijing Office, Luna Wu Also present were British Council Education Marketing team, senior representatives from a number of Bangor University’s partner universities based in Beijing including Beijing Normal University, China University of Political Science and Law, Renmin University, Beihang University, State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) and the Chinese Services Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) and a number of Bangor's Chinese Alumni.

Bangor has a very active Chinese Society and Chinese students play an important part in internationalising the Bangor student experience. There are now over 700 Chinese students at studying at Bangor.

Publication date: 11 March 2011