Peking University, October 10, 2023: From September 27 to October 4, 2023, Peking University President Gong Qihuang led a delegation to visit the United States. They were invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of Harvard University's 30th President, Claudine Gay, and visited Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. During the visit, they also met with Zhang Jianmin, the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco.
President Gong Qihuang meets with Harvard President Claudine Gay
On September 28, the delegation attended the Special Reception for World University Representatives and Diplomatic Envoys at the Inauguration Ceremony of Harvard's 30th President, Claudine Gay, held at the Harvard Faculty Club. During Gong’s meeting with Gay, he expressed the willingness to strengthen friendly relations between Chinese and American higher education, in particular the ties between PKU and Harvard University. President Gay welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of substantial cooperation and exchanges between the two universities. During their visit, the delegation also engaged in discussions and exchanged views on academic topics and future cooperation with scholars and representatives from Harvard University, including Professor of Chinese and Inner Asian History at Harvard University Mark C. Elliot.
On September 29, the delegation participated in an academic seminar titled “Looking Ahead: Future of the Academy” at Harvard University's Science Center. The seminar was hosted by the Dean of Arts and Humanities Robin Kelsey, and gathered speakers from various fields such as architecture, literature, philosophy, and anthropology. Experts from different academic backgrounds expounded on the challenges and prospects faced by universities and the role that universities play in spurring social development.
Subsequently, the inauguration ceremony for Harvard's new president was held outdoors at Harvard Yard, attended by presidents and representatives from 185 universities and research institutions worldwide. Gong represented Chinese universities at the ceremony.
President Gong Qihuang meets with President of Stanford University Richard Saller
On October 2, the delegation visited Stanford University and met with its president, Richard Saller. They discussed ongoing collaborations between PKU and Stanford University, including various academic and people-to-people exchanges. Gong hoped that Stanford University students would be able to visit the PKU campus during the spring semester next year. The Stanford Center at PKU could also be leveraged to invite more Stanford scholars and students from diverse academic disciplines to visit PKU to explore more cooperation in fields such as innovation and environmental sustainability, he added.
During the visit, the delegation also met with Michael McFaul, director of the Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, and Jean C. Oi, director of the Stanford Center at Peking University, to exchange opinions on Sino-American education and international academic research.
President Gong Qihuang meets with UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol T. Christ
On the afternoon of the same day, the delegation met with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) Chancellor, Carol T. Christ. They discussed the existing cooperation between the two universities, particularly in law, environment, and public health, and explored opportunities for further collaboration.
As part of a series of activities to mark PKU’s “Global Engagement Year,” this visit fulfilled its aim of strengthening educational cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and American universities and helped promote international academic collaboration.
This article was featured in the special coverage of PKU’s Global Engagement Year.
Written by: Shi Xinyao
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
