Yang Lin, Party secretary of Yunnan University (YNU), led a delegation to the UK as part of an education exchange, from March 9 to 14.

The visit came at the invitation of the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, University of Leicester and London Natural History Museum.

During Yang’s stay in Cambridge, Yang held an in-depth discussion with Ian White, vice-president of the university. Yang introduced YNU to Professor White and then received a briefing from the university vice-president on cooperation between Cambridge University, the Chinese government, universities and companies.

Professor White expressed an interest in developing deeper ties with YNU in China studies and research into photoelectronic energy materials.

Yunnan University Party Secretary Yang Lin (L) exchanges gifts with Ian White, vice-president of the University of Cambridge. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

With Professor White in attendance, Yang held a discussion with Peter Nolan, a world-famous economist and director of the China Center at Jesus College Cambridge, on cooperation between the two sides. 

Yang briefly introduced YNU’s research on the Belt and Road Initiative, and paid tribute to Professor Nolan for his research in the field of China studies, including China’s reform and opening-up, economic transformation and China’s role in globalization. 

Yang expressed his hopes that the China Center Cambridge could conduct cooperative programs with YNU in economic studies of South Asia and South-East Asia, biodiversity, cross-border ecological preservation, cultural diversities of ethnic groups, cross-border water management and the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, as well as in other issues of concern to both parties.

Professor Nolan expressed his pleasure at developing a deep and long-lasting cooperation model with YNU. The professor said that he was willing to conduct research and train professionals in partnership with YNU. Following their discussion, both sides signed a memorandum. 

During their visit to Cambridge, they also called upon the research team led by Gehan Amaratunga, a well-known scientist in the research of photoelectronic energy materials and an academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering. 

With the support of Professor Amaratunga, the international research center of photoelectronic energy materials founded by YNU was recognized as one of the 38 national-level international research institutes by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2016. 

During the delegation’s stay at Oxford, Paul Smith, dean of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, met with the delegation and held a discussion on a further partnership. Both sides agreed to hold an exhibition on the fossils of the paleontological species unearthed in Chengjiang county, Yunnan province, and hold a conference to launch the English-language version of the book about the Chengjiang paleontological findings in 2019. 

Since the 1980s, YNU researchers have achieved a great deal in the field of paleontological studies during their fieldwork in the Chengjiang areas, in partnership with experts from the photoelectronic energy materials field. In 2007, YNU’s project to build an international laboratory to study the evolution of paleontological species in Yunnan province was granted approval by the National Education Authority.

Yang (front row, second from left) poses for photograph with representatives from the University of Leicester. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Following the visits to Cambridge and Oxford, Yang led the team to the University of Leicester, where Paul Monks, vice-president of the university, met with them. 

The delegation also met with David Siveter, a professor at the university’s school of geographical studies, who has maintained a partnership with Hou Zhuguang, a YNU professor, since the 1980s. Professor Siveter collaborated with two other professors to get the Chengjiang paleontological findings added to the World Natural Heritage List in 2012. 

Other institutions the delegation visited included the London Natural History Museum, Grant Thornton and the Embassy of China, London.

Yang (second from left) talks to representatives at London Natural History Museum. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

The YNU delegation poses for a photograph with staff members at the Embassy of China, London [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]