Sun Youzhong, a member of the standing committee of the CPC Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) committee and vice-president of BFSU, led a delegation to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji from Dec 9 to 18.

The delegation visited renowned universities such as Western Sydney University, the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Melbourne, the University of Auckland, Massey University and the University of the South Pacific (USP) to strengthen substantive cooperation and promote the sharing of high-quality educational resources between BFSU and leading universities in Oceania.

The journey also sought to provide more opportunities for BFSU faculty and students to engage in exchanges, learning and practical experiences at top-tier international universities that would foster a broader platform for talent development and academic growth.

During the trip, the delegation held talks with various diplomatic organizations, including the Chinese embassy in Australia, the Fiji-China Friendship Association and the Chinese embassy in Fiji, and met with BFSU alumni and students.

These interactions aimed to enhance mutual understanding, explore collaboration opportunities, and facilitate exchanges between BFSU and its counterparts in the Oceania region.

Sun expresses gratitude to the BFSU Alumni Association in Australia for its continuous support and encourages the association to further contribute to the university's development, hoping that it will promote Sino-Australian educational and cultural cooperation and exchanges, on Dec 10. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The delegation and representatives from Western Sydney University discuss the development of double-degree programs in such areas as English and creative writing, translation, journalism and business, collaborative training projects, joint online courses and overseas internships, as well as long and short-term student exchanges, on Dec 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Sun highlights the successful collaboration between BFSU and the University of Sydney in such areas as the co-authoring of the Blue Book of Australia: Annual Report on Development of Australia and short-term high-end foreign expert projects on Dec 11. He hopes to establish comprehensive cooperation with the university to further strengthen academic exchanges and promote collaboration on more substantive projects. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

On Dec 11, the delegation and representatives from the University of Technology Sydney discuss enhancing undergraduate student exchanges and expanding dual master's degree programs, joint doctoral student training, collaborative teaching by faculty members, summer programs, joint overseas internships and cross-cultural journal projects. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Sun expresses gratitude for the Chinese embassy in Australia's strong support to BFSU over the years and briefs embassy workers on BFSU's achievements in Australia-related research, the cooperative mechanism of the Forum on China-Australia Transcultural Studies, BFSU's exchanges and collaboration with Australian universities, as well as its talent cultivation philosophy and overseas internship program on Dec 11. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

On Dec 12, representatives from BFSU and the ANU delve into the Forum on China-Australia Transcultural Studies, cross-school international seminars, scholar exchanges, joint interdisciplinary research projects, journal collaborations, and the development of South Pacific language majors and teaching materials, as well as joint courses, summer, pre-degree, dual master's degree and student exchange programs, and overseas internship initiatives. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Sun highlights the pragmatic collaboration between BFSU and the University of Melbourne in scholar exchanges and students’ overseas internships on Dec 13. He expresses the hope that both parties will innovate and cooperate in establishing a sustainable, globally impactful academic brand of the Global China Forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

On Dec 14, the delegation and the University of Auckland discuss ways to further strengthen the development of South Pacific language majors and teaching materials, joint research and courses, exchanges of teachers and students, and the organization of international symposiums. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Sun introduces BFSU's talent cultivation philosophy, academic strengths, international exchanges and academic research at Massey University’s Albany campus on Dec 14. The positive outcomes of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation and curriculum connection agreement between the two sides have been acknowledged, and both universities express their intention to deepen and enrich their engagement. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The delegation holds talks with representatives from the BFSU Alumni Association in New Zealand on Dec 14. Sun expresses gratitude for the support offered by the association and hopes that the alumni will act as cultural ambassadors to enhance connections between BFSU and New Zealand. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The delegation and the USP exchange views on signing a memorandum of cooperation and reach a comprehensive intention for collaboration on Dec 15. In the future, the two universities will promote scholar and student exchanges, joint research, international academic conferences, short-term projects, academic resource and information exchanges and sharing, and curriculum and teaching material development. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

The delegation visits the Fiji-China Friendship Association on Dec 16. Established in February 2012, the association is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the people of Fiji and China. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Sun introduces BFSU's construction of programs on non-common languages in the South Pacific, teacher training and country and area studies at the Chinese embassy in Fiji on Dec 17. He says he hopes that the embassy will support BFSU in establishing practical cooperation with well-known universities in Fiji, promoting its research on the South Pacific region and language program development, and creating more opportunities for students' global internships. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]