A team headed by Yang Dan, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, visited France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland from June 6 to 15.

The team from BFSU poses for a group photo with representatives from Inalco University on June 7. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The team from BFSU poses for a group photo with representatives from ESCP Business School on June 7. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The team paid visits to the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco University) and the Paris campus of ESCP Business School on June 7, aiming to strengthen cooperation with the two universities in country and area studies, curriculum development, joint degree and exchange programs, and joint forums, as well as in the construction of the Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities (GAFSU) and the building of Confucius Institutes.

The team from BFSU meets with officials from the Chinese embassy in France on June 7. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the Chinese embassy in France, Yang thanked the embassy for supporting BFSU’s growth and promoting cultural exchanges between the two nations over the years and introduced the university’s development philosophies, disciplinary construction, talent cultivation, international communication and future development.

The team from BFSU meets with officials from the Permanent Mission of China to UNESCO on June 8. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan (fourth from left), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, talks with Qu Xing (fifth from left), deputy director-general at UNESCO and a BFSU alumnus on June 8. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

On June 8, team members discussed further collaborations in joint research, publication and international communication with the Permanent Mission of China to UNESCO and talked about BFSU-UNESCO cooperation in information and communication, cross-cultural dialogues, selection of outstanding individuals and expansion of internship opportunities.

The team from BFSU meets representatives from the Sciences Po on June 8. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), the two sides expressed the hope of launching more academic dialogues and creating more learning and exchange opportunities for students from the two universities.

The team from BFSU is shown with representatives from the OU on June 9. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

During their stay in the UK, team members went to the Open University (OU), the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and Oxford Brookes University, where they discussed modern distance education, cooperation in Chinese courseware, dual degree certification, faculty and student exchanges, country and area studies and AI cooperation.

Yang Dan (R), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, signs a summer school cooperative agreement between LSE and BFSU on June 9. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan (L), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, unveils the Chinese-style book event center, Wenjin Hall, at the Confucius Institute of Oxford Brookes University with Vice-Chancellor Alistair Fitt (R) on June 10. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang also signed a summer school cooperative agreement between LSE and BFSU and unveiled the Chinese-style book event center, Wenjin Hall, at the Confucius Institute of Oxford Brookes University with Vice-Chancellor Alistair Fitt.

The team from BFSU holds discussions with representatives from the Oxford Campus of PHBS on June 10. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

While touring the Oxford Campus of Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), BFSU learned about overseas school building models and experiences and gained insights into expanding overseas programs for its teachers and students, as well as overseas cooperation.

The team from BFSU poses for a group photo with officials from the Chinese embassy in the UK on June 12. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

At the Chinese embassy in the UK, Yang introduced the current development of language teaching, research cooperation and international exchanges at BFSU, and said that the university is willing to support activities held by the embassy.

Yang Dan (L), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, and Adam Habib (R), director of the SOAS, pose for a photo on June 12. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The team also visited the University of London and its School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) on June 12, where Yang invited the school to join the BFSU-initiated GAFSU and agreed to restart the BFSU-SOAS international forum to strengthen academic exchanges.

Yang Dan (L), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, shakes hands with Nikhil Seth (R), executive director of the UNITAR, on June 13. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

On June 13, the team discussed advancing the design and development of degree courses and promoting joint research, and signed an agreement with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The team from BFSU is shown with representatives from the IHEID on June 13. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

While visiting the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), the team reviewed the outcomes of its three-year collaboration with the institute, agreed to deepen ties in exchange programs and joint research, and signed a general partnership agreement with the IHEID.

Yang Dan (front left), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, is interviewed by Prisca Chaoui (front right), editor-in-chief of UN Today, on June 13. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

In an interview with Prisca Chaoui, editor-in-chief of UN Today magazine, Yang emphasized the crucial role of promoting peace and cultural exchanges entrusted to the younger generation and highlighted BFSU's unwavering commitment to cultivating talents capable of providing language services, conducting language research, and preserving languages, with the aim of enhancing communication between China and the world.

Team members talk with officials from the UNOG on June 14. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

During their trip in Switzerland, team members visited the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) as part of their efforts to enhance collaboration and establish a global language service platform. They proposed increased cooperation between the two institutions, including sending more BFSU students for internships at the UNOG and organizing themed lectures taught by UNOG officials and experts.

Andrew Staines (L), assistant director-general of the WIPO, shakes hands with Yang Dan (R), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, on June 14. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan (L), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, shakes hands with Pablo Percelsi (R), deputy regional director for Asia and Pacific at the ICRC, on June 14. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The team also paid visits to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), where it signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperative training of interpretation and translation students between BFSU and the WIPO, and a memorandum of understanding on partnership and cooperation between BFSU and ICRC.