Editor's note:
PKU Council Chairman Zhu Shanlu and his delegation began their visit to the United States and Canada on November 27, 2011. They will visit Stanford University, the University of California Berkeley, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and other North American universities and research institutions. The PKU delegation will sign multiple agreements of communication and cooperation, visit major international friends and institutions and present the latest educational and cultural developments at PKU and in China as a whole. Meanwhile, the delegation will hold numerous symposiums with distinguished overseas scholars and alumni.

Peking University, Dec.5, 2011: On the afternoon of November 30 local time, PKU Council Chairman Zhu Shanlu and his delegation called at the University of Toronto. They held talks with President David Naylor, renewed the mutual cooperation agreement, and signed another agreement on student exchange programs.

President David Naylor, on behalf of the University of Toronto, expressed his warm welcome towards PKU delegation. He mentioned that he had paid a visit to PKU on invitation during its 110 anniversary celebration in 2008, attended the World Famous University Presidents Forum where he delivered a keynote speech. Naylor said he was deeply impressed y by the rapid progress PKU has made in the last few years, and hoped the University of Toronto could learn from this success.

Professor Zhu Shanlu pointed out that the University of Toronto has always been a major companion of PKU in North America. Early in 1989, the two universities signed academic exchange agreements. In recent years, the University of Toronto has dispatched several missions to PKU, and held talks with relevant PKU schools on corporation, demonstrating the strong desire for friendships between the two universities. Professor Zhu and President Naylor discussed plans for further corporation, such as the models for bilateral cooperation  between PKU and the University of Toronto, which could be extended to other Canadian universities; the establishment of a regular students exchange program, the co-founding Summer School; encouraging first-rate scholars to meet and educate each other and collaborating on medical research and the training of medical students.

Afterwards, the two presidents signed agreements of academic exchange on behalf of their universities. Meanwhile, the delegates held in-depth discussions on areas for further collaboration, such as teaching, developing scientific achievements, human resources management, university planning, resource allocation etc., with their Toronto counterparts.

Prof. Zhu Shanlu and President Naylor sign the exchange agreements

Before the meeting, the PKU delegation visited the University of British Columbia on November 29 to hold talks with President Stephen J. Toope and Vice President John Hepburn on university development and management, academic exchange, cooperation, and other issues. The two sides renewed their agreements of cooperation between their two Law Schools thus strengthening a partnership of over 20 years. Moreover, the delegation visited the Irving K Barber Learning Centre, the University of British Columbia, and was deeply impressed by its integration of functions such as study, reading, and activities.

During their stay in Canada, the delegation called at China’s Consulate Generals in Vancouver and Toronto. Consul-general Chen Ligang and Deputy Consul-general Li Wenci met with the delegates and expressed their willingness to support PKU in recruiting talent and expanding international cooperation in Canada.

Before they left Canada, President Zhu and PKU delegation held exchange activities with the local alumni.

Prof. Zhu Shanlu, together with representatives from the PKU Alumni Association of Canada

Written by: Wang Jingran
Edited by: Arthars
Source: PKU News (Chinese)